Luxury Living: Etiquette For Children

For the Luxury Living set, it's the time to see and be seen... and that means you've got to have manners.

Etiquette Expert Suzanne Willis says, "The way the world is today so fast paced that people aren't taking the time to sit down to dinner at night and learn the manners."

So enter the Ritz-Carlton Coconut Grove.

On this night, this group of young ladies and gentleman are learning the basics of fine dining and proper etiquette.

Suzanne says, "It's more important then ever I think that children learn good manners, and they start to learn it at an early age."

Mac Cox says, "It's important to have manners cause you might be at a fancy restaurant and you might not know what to do."

So let's start with introductions, literally.

Suzanne says, "Oh excellent handshake nice to meet you."

Extend your hand, look straight at the person, smile and shake... now that's a greeting.

Suzanne says, "You take a bite of the roll about the size of an olive."

Next, the children sit down to a luxurious four-course meal prepared by the restaurant's chef and his staff.

First things first, no elbows on the table.... hmmm...mmm, no elbows on the table please.

Now for the feeding frenzy -- not --- we start with a Consommé which is sipped not slurped.

The next dish a tricky one, pasta, which the kids learned as the saying goes, if at first you don't succeed try... try... and try again.

Suzanne says, "I don't want to see any stabbing, no chop, chop, chop."

And finally, the children learn the proper way to cut a petite filet mignon.

Suzanne says, "It was a very luxurious evening for them tonight to have that many courses and some foods that they probably never tried."

From how to butter bread... To making a toast... To even writing a thank you note, these kids are learning, early on, manners are a must.

Adrianna Valiente says, "Don't put your elbows on the table and don't talk with your mouth full."

Daniel Valiente says, "Like don't put your elbows on the table, don't talk with your mouth full, don't burp at the table."

Nicole Smith says, "I know I'll impress my friends at school when they see the news."

The kids got a certificate and a manners guide.

The class was so popular, the Ritz-Carlton has scheduled another class at their Key Biscayne location on December 29th.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Contact: bnerey@wsvn.com

Next "Mimi's Manners" Etiquette Class is scheduled for December 29, 2003 from 5 to 7pm in hotel's wine room (limited to 15 children):

The Ritz-Carlton, Key Biscayne

305-365-4286

455 Grand Bay Drive

Key Biscayne, FL 33149

The Ritz-Carlton Coconut Grove

http://www.ritzcarlton.com/hotels/coconut_grove/default.html

3300 S.W. 27th Avenue

Coconut Grove, FL 33133

305-644-4680