Game of the Month: Menu Mash-Up

I have been remiss in getting up a new post for our game of the month series but I'm finally getting my act together to share a new game we've been playing: Menu Mash-Up.

Chronicle Books sent us the game, Menu Mash-Up: The Food Game With All the Ingredients for Fun last December and it proved to be a great hit with my 10 year old who kept his grandmother busy playing the game throughout the school break. We are not the game's only fans, Parent's Choice awarded Menu Mash-Up a silver medal.

Game Play:

Using ingredients and prep cards, players create inventive menus based on themed prompts or instructions on "dish cards", such as "picnic", "work of art", "gross me out", (that is my son's favorite) or "speed round." After players put together a menu, a judge selects his or her favorite based on how successfully the menu fits the theme. The winner collects the dish card and play continues until a player has collected enough dish cards to win the game (3-5 cards, depending on the number of players).

The instructions come with several game variations, to keep things interesting.

Tips for Playing with Kids:

• Menu Mash-Up is recommended for ages 12 and up but my 10 year old enjoyed it. My 6 year old was less interested in making up menus (he needed a lot of explanation about the prep cards) but did like choosing the dish cards while I played with his brother.
• The best part of this game is that there is a lot of opportunity for silliness. This is always a bonus with my boys. I find game time is more successful when we can spend a lot of time laughing. (Or saying, "Euuuuuwww!" Take your pick.)
• My 10 year old actually really likes "playing" the game on his own. He will sit down with the cards, come up with crazy menus and then come over and show them to me.
• Neither of my kids are especially interested in cooking, so I imagine Menu Mash-Up would be even more fun for kids who do love to experiment in the kitchen.

Have you ever played Menu Mash-Up? Does it sound like something your kids would enjoy?

MORE:

Try a few of our other favorite games:

• Qwirkle
• Gobblet!
• Ticket to Ride
• Perplexus

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