Is this a specific kind of cuisine I'm unfamiliar with?
The story is okay, it's just the writing that's poor. It's a picture book, intended for adults to read to children. A parent is going to be there. You don't need to have your characters do something, and then explain why they did the right thing. You're not adding anything new just by repeating what just happened with a cliche description. That's not the same thing as explaining things in a different way.
Message
Being different is good. Or, be nice to everybody even if they're a jerk to you.