Children - especially those between eight and 10 years old - are highlighted as summer progresses and Hong Kongers get their city back from the visiting masses. In one seasonal innovation, the Ritz-Carlton is offering weekly cooking classes for children. Executive chef Roger Marcz and pastry chef Wins Hung will be boiling and toiling to teach children a range of dishes including lasagne, pizza, apple pie, doughnuts, spring rolls and cake decorating. The hotel says the course was inspired by a similar concept introduced at The Ritz hotel in Paris. Classes will be held every Saturday from August 9 to September 27 from 3-6pm. Sessions will be conducted in English and Cantonese. The fee of $1,200 a student includes a mini-apron, a chef's hat and a Ritz-Carlton T-shirt. For more information, call Julia Liu on 2877-6666, ext 8013. Forget the fast food Children who prefer not to be in the kitchen may be more amused by the suggestions in Annabel Karmel's Quick Children's Meals (Ebury Press, $209). In a new compilation of recipes she tested first on her all-American family, Karmel has included more than 170 recipes, ranging from polka-dot chicken to crispy seaweed. All, she says, are far healthier alternatives to the over-salted highly processed food most often employed as speedy eating solutions. The illustrations are often a lot more entertaining than the rather inane introductions, such as 'pumpkins are delicious and nutritious' and the collection includes too many silly anecdotes. But there is enough that's useful in there - including ideas for children's party snacks - to make it a very handy collection. Beaten by the bread The Grand Hyatt's Grand Cafe used to have one of the best breadbaskets in town. Well, it has just been whipped by JW's at the Marriott. In its new incarnation as a lighter, brighter and more modern venue, the restaurant is serving zigzag bread sticks, handkerchief-size crackers, bagels and a whole range of interesting breads, buns and rolls in an inspired silver spiral basket. The attitude of the restaurant - 'mixing philosophies, mixing cuisines, breaking all the rules of conventional dining' - is pretentious, but much is forgiven for the deep-fried spiced Maryland soft-shell crab with Sichuan plum nectar glaze ($98). The truffle risotto ($168) is to be avoided until the chef comes up with more than rice mixed with truffles, asparagus, leeks and Parmesan, but the spinach salad ($93) is worth ordering. JW's also does wonderful things like decaf cappuccino with skim milk, and is happy to switch ingredients. Finally, while other restaurants worry about declining interest in jobs as waiters, the service at JW's is brilliant. Reservations on 2810-8366. Charm needs no arches The British colony of Bermuda has raised the red flag against American-style fast food. The colony, which ranks as Britain's most populous after Hong Kong's reunification with China, simply refuses to have fast-food outlets such as McDonald's, Pizza Hut or Taco Bell. Legislators and residents say the presence of fast-food chains will cheapen and spoil the island's old world charm. Bermuda is ranked by the World Bank as one of the five richest places in the world.