Chopsticks Inn: Redcloak Drive, Stonehaven

CHILDREN can be real creatures of habit when it comes to food, can’t they?

Every time we decide to treat ourselves to a Chinese take out you can be guaranteed that the loon will mutter “chicken chow mein” over the lid of his laptop and the wee one will break off from her Nintendo DS to ask for chicken fried rice.

Boring ... even if both dishes from Chopsticks were delicious.

The chow mein (£4.60) had good-sized chunks of chicken and veg in a pleasing soy-rich sauce, while the chicken mix (£4.50) escaped the curse of being greasy.

So it was up to the grown-ups to step out. My beloved, though, was disappointed with her underpowered beef in oyster sauce and beansprouts (£4.80). It was too bland for her tastes.

No such complaints about my chicken with hot chilli and garlic (£5). This was a riot of flavours with a hefty kick for the tastebuds.

Now if only we can persuade the kids to give it a go at some point.