The chefs need prettier aprons.
After making their own pizza lunch, the six-year-olds have sauce stains on the plain white aprons covering their party clothes. Glitter is really in order.
Nikki McGowan pulls out her princess party supplies. Puffy paint. Glitter glue. Stamps and ink. This is met with all-round approval.
The pizza smell is starting to fill the first floor of the Woodstock home. While the aprons dry, the girls find their places at the tables with linen napkins tied with ribbon and dainty floral teacups. The “tea” is actually slightly warm cider, but it’s lots of fun to stir and twirl with silver spoons. Delightful.
Best of all, says Meg Savage, mother of the birthday girl, Kaylie, “It’s been nice and easy.”
Culinary Kids, a new party service and cooking school, prepared the pink toile invitations, came up with the “princess” menu and furnished all of the supplies, from the pizza dough to the pretty plates.
It’s one of several new and unique options on the birthday scene, whether you need to entertain a group of 10-year-old energetic boys or an entire preschool class. And it’s easier than ever to tailor the party theme to your child’s individual hobbies and interests.
For example, if your birthday child is a budding star, an actual production may be just the thing. The Drama Learning Center staff will perform a routine, and then teach the party guests the moves and song. Request costumes and props, add a backstage tour and it’s your child’s own version of “High School Musical.”
Other theatrical choices include Hannah Montana, “The Little Mermaid” and “Hairspray.” A typical scenario is an hour of drama, and then an hour of partying with cake and food in one of the classrooms. The refreshments are provided by the host.
“It started with requests by parents of our students,” says Stephanie Williams, owner of The Drama Learning Center. “It’s really taken off. We’re doing parties now for 4-year-olds to 10-year-olds.”
For a birthday girl or boy fascinated by castles and courts, a party at Medieval Times is a unique option. One of the nation’s nine “castles” is in Hanover at Arundel Mills Mall.
The show is exciting, as knights joust on actual horses and characters perform. The venue is also authentic looking, with hefty wood tables and candlelight.
And this is one place where your kid will actually be encouraged to eat with his or her hands. If nothing else, this a birthday dinner they won’t forget.
One of the newer facilities offering parties is Red Zone Adventures in Timonium.
Laser tag is played over a multi-level, industrial cityscape. Red Zone’s version of mini-golf is called “urban golf” and is played on glow-in-the-dark greens. And a light-space play floor pulsates with bright colors.
The inspiration? “Having three boys,” says Darin Winick, who owns the facility with his wife, Kim Caspari.
One of Winick’s favorite features is the laser maze room. “Think ‘Mission Impossible,’” says Winick.
Red Zone also has an arcade, a concession stand, a parents lounge and a toddler play area.
And don’t forget there are alternatives to birthday cakes. Edible Arrangements makes festive fruit arrangements, which look like flower bouquets. Each “stem” is actually a kabob, made from grapes, melon, strawberry, pineapple or another fruit.
No one is suggesting you deprive your birthday boy or girl of cake altogether, but after cupcakes at school, cookies at soccer practice, cake and ice cream after dinner, your child may appreciate something different.
Back at the Savage house, it’s time for the sugar course of the birthday meal. McGowan has already prepared the cupcakes. Each girl gets a cup of frosting. McGowan adds a drop of red food coloring to each to make pink.
It takes about five seconds for the first girl to realize that the spoon, while intended for the stirring, also can be used to eat the frosting directly.
“Yummy,” one says to the smiling group.
But McGowan and sous chef Joan McCabe aren’t done wowing the party guests. They bring out tiny bowls of bright pink crystals that look like edible glitter. The girls literally squeal in excitement.
“Sprinkles!” one of them coos.
But soon one of the guests gets a stormy look. She is not happy with the vanilla cupcake and insists that she only likes chocolate. The adults try to explain that she can eat a chocolate one now and take the vanilla one home. No, that won’t do. The tears start flowing.
Quickly, McGowan grabs one of the cupcakes she decorated before the party. She wipes off the swirls of frosting. Ta-da. The unhappy guest is sated.
“That was close,” says McGowan, joking. “It’s like ‘Survivor Chef.’”
While she aims to please her party guests and students, McGowan says, “I want to expose kids to different kinds of food. We’re not making pigs in a blanket. We’re making soy-sugar salmon and orange-infused couscous with dried cranberries.”
Well, it’s not all salmon and couscous. Sometimes, it’s pizza and cupcakes. And always, it’s about having fun, says McGowan, the executive chef and founder of Culinary Kids.
“We’re not studying food charts,” says McGowan, who has previously worked at Clyde’s Restaurant Group and has three children.
Sometimes, McGowan says, it seems, “I’ve become a clown with the spatula.”
Blowout party ideas
> Culinary Kids Cooking School, which travels to the home of the birthday child, offers a package for eight children for $350, ($25 for each additional child). Aprons for the children, supplies, clean-up and set-up is included. Goodie bags range from $5 to $10 per bag. 978-223-3068 or www.culinarykidscookingschool.com
> Medieval Times Dinner and Tournament at Arundel Mills in Hanover offers a basic knight or princess package for 10 children under the age of 12 for $33 each. Upgrades, such a knighting ceremony, are also available. 866-543-9637 or www.medievaltimes.com/promotions/birthday_packages.php
> Drama Learning Center in Columbia offers a two-hour party for up to 20 guests for $250. Among the options for themes: “High School Musical,” Disney Prroadway classics. Additional time and guests are extra. 410-997-9352 or www.dramalearningcenter.com
> Red Zone Adventures offers packages for 10 or more guests that include urban golf, laser tag, laser maze, ranging from $175 to $325. The party rooms at the Timonium facility can accommodate 40 to 45 guests. 410-372-4422 or www.redzoneadventures.com
> Edible Arrangements, which has 33 Maryland locations including Catonsville, Columbia and Ellicott City, sells several kid-themed arrangements, such as Thomas the Tank Engine, Elmo and Disney Princess, for $59. www.ediblearrangements.com.