OPEN WITH TAPE 7, EXECUTIVE CHEF STEVE LEARNED 124 SFX, PAPERS SHUFFLING ok, hot appetizer tonight, Vermont cheddar fondu. The fondu is made with extra sharp cheddar cheese, white wine, apple cider, finished with roasted garlic? :09 [FADE AND HOLD UNDER]
IT?S 6:15 IN THE EVENING, AND THE BALSAMS? EXECUTIVE CHEF STEVE LEARNED IS BRIEFING THE WAIT STAFF ON TONIGHT?S MENU.
TAPE 7, EXECUTIVE CHEF STEVE LEARNED 129 for the soups -- forest mushroom soup is made with chicken stock, has portabella, shitake and button mushrooms in it, as well as brown rice and onions. And it?s finished with a little bit of sweet sherry ?. :09 [FADE AND HOLD UNDER]
ABOUT TWO DOZEN WAITERS DRESSED IN BLACK PANTS, WHITE SHIRTS, BLACK TIES AND GOLD COATS, ARE SCRIBBLING NOTES FURIOUSLY. THE BALSAMS, AFTER ALL, IS HOME OF A CULINARY ARTS SCHOOL, AND THE MENU CHANGES EVERY NIGHT.
TAPE 7, EXECUTIVE CHEF STEVE LEARNED 143 pan seared tuna. The tuna is cooked to medium rare?. :03 [FADE AND HOLD UNDER]
A STAY IN THIS FOUR STAR HOTEL IS NOT INEXPENSIVE. RATES START AT AROUND TWO-HUNDRED-DOLLARS PER PERSON, PER NIGHT. BUT THE BALSAMS OPERATES ON WHAT?S CALLED THE AMERICAN PLAN. EVERYTHING IS INCLUDED. THREE MEALS A DAY. TWO GOLF COURSES. HALF A DOZEN TENNIS COURTS. A HEATED POOL. A PRIVATE LAKE FOR FISHING , BOATING OR SWIMMING. MILES OF HIKING AND MOUNTAIN BIKING TRAILS. IN WINTER THERE?S THE HOTEL?S OWN SKI AREA, CROSS COUNTRY SKIING, AND SNOWSHOEING. CHILDREN COST THEIR AGE TIME TEN-DOLLARS A NIGHT, AND CAN ATTEND A DAY CAMP AT NO EXTRA CHARGE. AFTER DINNER, THERE?S A MOVIE THEATRE. TWO NIGHTCLUBS WITH LIVE ENTERTAINMENT. A BALLROOM WITH AN ORCHESTRA.
BUT THE HIGHLIGHT OF THE DAY, THE MAIN EVENT, THE OCCASION EVERYONE LOOKS FORWARD TO? IS DINNER.
TAPE 7, STEVE LEARNED 173 The vegetarian entr饬 baked stuffed portabella mushroom. We take two portabella mushrooms, and grill?. :04 [FADE AND HOLD UNDER]
TABLES ARE SET WITH WHITE LINEN, POLISHED SILVER, AND FRESH FLOWERS. EVERY TABLE HAS A VIEW OF THE GARDENS AND THE MOUNTAINS BEYOND. THE HOTEL IS FULL THIS EVENING ? ABOUT 425-GUESTS. STAFF ACTUALLY OUTNUMBER THE GUESTS, AND ALMOST HALF THE STAFF IS DEVOTED TO SERVING MEALS.
TAPE 7 STEVE 185 any questions on the menu? /// 194 ok, have a good evening :05
TAPE 7. 211 SFX, SOUND OF DISPERSING AFTER MEETING. ENDS AT 220
AT PRECISELY 6:30, THE DINING ROOM DOORS OPEN? MAITRE D JOHN WHITE BEGINS SEATING GUESTS? AND ANOTHER DINNER IS UNDERWAY.
TAPE 7, JOHN WHITE, MAITRE D 256 good evening, how are you? Good. :05
TAPE SFX PIANO ?Nightingale Sang in Barkley Square.? :02 [FADE AND HOLD UNDER]
EACH PARTY OF GUESTS IS ASSIGNED A TABLE THAT IS THEIRS ALONE FOR THE LENGTH OF THEIR STAY. GUESTS CAN LINGER OVER DINNER AS LONG AS THEY WANT. THEY HAVE THE SAME WAIT STAFF, INCLUDING THREE SERVERS AND A WINE STEWARD ? WHO ARE OVERSEEN BY A CAPTAIN. THERE ARE FIVE COURSES. THE SERVICE ISN?T PRETENTIOUS, BUT IT IS ATTENTIVE. SERVERS COME TO KNOW THEIR GUESTS? PREFERENCES ? WHETHER THEY WANT A DRINK BEFORE DINNER, FAVORITE DISHES, WHETHER THEY LIKE TEA OR COFFEE, AND WHAT KIND OF EACH. ASSISTANT MAITRE D BEN CARPINO HAS BEEN AT THE BALSAMS FOR 22-YEARS.
TAPE 6, 031 BEN CARPINO, ASST MAITRE D 066 we try and treat everyone as if they?re the only person in the hotel. /// 069 no matter whether we?re feeding 50 people or 400 guests, we have to make sure that they all know that we?re all here for them. :13
AND GUESTS KEEP COMING BACK. ON AVERAGE, 86-PERCENT OF THE HOTEL?S GUESTS HAVE STAYED HERE BEFORE. THEY OFTEN BOOK THE SAME WEEK YEAR AFTER YEAR. THE RESERVATIONS MANAGER CLAIMS THAT IF HE DIDN?T HAVE A CALENDAR, HE COULD TELL YOU THE DAY OF THE MONTH BASED SOLELY ON THE FACES HE SEES IN THE DINING ROOM.
JUST TEN YEARS AGO, 75-PERCENT OF THE DINING ROOM?S TABLES WERE SET FOR TWO PEOPLE, AND THE HOTEL HAD 5-CHILDREN?S COUNSELORS.
[BEGIN FADE MUSIC HERE]
TODAY, MORE AND MORE FAMILIES ARE COMING. ONLY ABOUT ONE FOURTH OF TABLES ARE FOR TWO ? AND THERE ARE TWENTY-FIVE COUNSELORS. HOTEL PRESIDENT AND MANAGING PARTNER STEVE BARBA BELIEVES THAT, AS FAMILY LIFE BECOMES MORE FRACTURED, HECTIC, AND MORE INFORMAL, THE BALSAMS OFFERS A KIND OF ORDER.
TAPE 3, STEVE BARBA 287 many family guests tell us they want to show their children what life can be like. And how nice it can be. And how polite people can be. And how friendly they can be, in an organized setting. :13
MORE FAMILIES HAS BROUGHT NEW CHALLENGES TO THE HOTEL. SOME GUESTS QUESTION WHAT BARBA REFERS TO AS ?THE STANDARDS? -- THE DRESS CODE, FOR EXAMPLE. BASEBALL CAPS AREN?T ALLOWED AT MEALS. MEN ARE REQUESTED TO WEAR JACKETS AFTER SIX. THESE DAYS, THE DINING ROOM MUST CATER TO FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN WHO MAY NOT KNOW HOW TO BEHAVE IN A RESTAURANT. AT THE SAME TIME, THE HOTEL STILL HAS TO CATER TO OTHER GUESTS WITHOUT CHILDREN. SO THE BALSAMS HAS DECIDED TO HELP PARENTS OUT?.
BY TRAINING THE FUTURE CLIENTELE.
TERRY LEVINGER IS FROM DALLAS. SHE?S RETURNED WITH HER HUSBAND AND TWO CHILDREN FOR THEIR SECOND VISIT TO THE BALSAMS. TODAY, SHE?S SIGNING UP THE KIDS FOR AN ACTIVITY NOT OFFERED AT MOST CHILDREN?S CAMPS.
TAPE 4, TERRY LEVINGER Well I think it?s time my 10 year old -- that I?d like him to have good manners at the table. Something that I preach at home all the time but he?s usually running aback and forth from the table. :12
AND THAT?S HOW JAKE, AND HIS SIX-YEAR-OLD BROTHER, SAM, WOUND UP IN?. ETIQUETTE CLASS.
TAPE 4, CLASS, CHAIR. TEACHER 260 What would a gentleman likely do for a lady when he gets to a table, Jake?
JAKE seat them.
TEACHER seat them, pull their chair out for them. Have you ever done that Jake? [No.] Would you like to try? :10 [FADE AND HOLD UNDER]
THE BALSAMS BELIEVES IT?S THE ONLY RESORT IN AMERICA THAT OFFERS REGULAR CLASSES ON ETIQUETTE. THIS CLASS CONSISTS OF TWO-DOZEN CHILDREN OF ALL AGES.
TAPE 5, CLASS, ROLL. TEACHER 084 when you took the roll out of the basket, where would you put it?
CHILD back where it was.
TEACHER 085 you?d put it back in the basket? Well then, you wouldn?t get to eat it, would you. Richard?
CHILD 086 put it on your // bread plate.
TEACHER 088 you?d put it on you bread and butter plate?.. :15 [FADE AND HOLD UNDER]
ETIQUETTE CLASS AT THE BALSAMS ALSO COVERS THE TOUGH ISSUES: THE FINER POINTS RAISED BY KIDS THEMSELVES. SHOULD YOU KICK YOUR BROTHER UNDER THE TABLE? PROBABLY NOT, BUT WHAT IF HE HAS HIS FEET ON YOUR MOTHER?S LEGS? SHOULD YOU SKIP IN THE DINING ROOM ? EVEN IF THERE AREN?T ANY WAITERS WITH HEAVY TRAYS NEARBY. IF THERE?S A LIGHTED CANDLE ON THE TABLE, SHOULD YOU TRY TO PUT YOUR FINGERS THROUGH THE FLAME, HOWEVER RAPIDLY? AND THEN THERE?S THE WHOLE BOUNCING BALL ISSUE.
TAPE 4, CLASS, BALL 220 CHILD Even if you have a ball you should not throw the ball up in the air, because if you throw the ball up in the air, you could break a light.
221 TEACHER. You could do that. but we probably wouldn?t have a ball in the dining room, right?
CHILD yeah. But what if /// you had a little ball in your pocket, you wouldn?t throw it up.
223 TEACHER. Right. You?d leave it in your pocket as long as you were in the dining room.
CHILD Yes.
TEACHER Yes. Good. Okay.
OTHER CHILD If it was a bouncy ball, and you bounced it on the floor, then?.. :25 [FADE AND HOLD UNDER]
OF COURSE, NOT ALL ISSUES GET RESOLVED RIGHT AWAY.
TAPE SFX, DINING ROOM, MUSIC, ?As Time Goes By? [FADE AND HOLD UNDER]
BUT AT DINNER THAT EVENING, JAKE PRONOUNCES HIMSELF SATISFIED WITH THE EXPERIENCE.
TAPE 9, JAKE 072 it was fun.
DOUG was it? did you learn anything that you didn?t know before.
JAKE 074 I didn?t know -- that little knife? -- was for spreading the butter. :11
JAKE?S MOM, TERRY LEVINGER, IS PLEASED ALSO.
TAPE 9, TERRY LEVINGER 058 the best part is that sam, when we walked in, decided he would hold the chair out for me. So he was kind of brown nosing a little bit and showing off. :10
SAM AND JAKE?S DAD, JEFF LEVINGER, CAN ALREADY SEE A DIFFERENCE.
TAPE 9, DOUG 218 what prompted your decision to enroll the boys in the etiquette class today?
TAPE JEFF our dining experience last night, for starters. [LAUGHS]
TAPE TERRY and breakfast this morning. [LAUGHS]
TAPE JEFF 225 and there was way too much finger eating last night, and bickering at the table. And tonight was a huge change. And dinner conversation was pleasant and calm, and just a little more refined. So we?ll see if it lasts. :24 [FADES QUICKLY]
MANAGING PARTNER STEVE BARBA THINKS OVER TIME, IT WILL. HE SAYS CONTRARY TO POPULAR WISDOM, KIDS WANT TO KNOW THE RULES OF ETIQUETTE.
TAPE 3 STEVE BARBA 328 they?ll be more confident, and more comfortable, and other people will find it easier to // include them in their // time here. :07
BARBA SAYS HELPING CHILDREN LEARN HOW TO ?FIT IN? HELPS THEIR PARENTS TO RELAX AND ENJOY A VACATION WITH THEIR FAMILIES.
TAPE 3 STEVE BARBA 307+ Which is what resorts are all about. We do very good work. This is important to people. They need what happens here. They need to recreate their lives in a setting like this that enables them to reconnect with themselves and their families. :14
BUT JUST IN CASE MOM DAD DECIDE THEY?D LIKE TO DINE BY THEMSELVES SOME EVENING, THE BALSAMS ALSO MAINTAINS A LIST OF 87-BABY SITTERS. FOR N-H-P-R NEWS, I?M DOUG MACPHERSON, IN DIXVILLE NOTCH.
TAPE: MUSIC UP FULL, [FADES BY ITSELF IN :25]
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