Scene of the crime: Villa Blanca Restaurant, Beverly Hills (yes, the place that’s owned by the fabulous Lisa Vanderpump from Bravo’s “The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills”).
Perpetrator: Me. Accomplices: My sister and my mom.
Guilty by association: LadyP.
In my before-baby life, white tablecloths, adult beverages and babies didn’t mix. (And frankly, I still don’t think they do.) If I was at a grown up restaurant and heard a single squeal from a toddler in the corner, my first reaction was “Why the hell would you bring a baby here?” I’d have given the mom a dirty look. In fact, I did on on many an occasion… along with a very loud and arrogant accusatory statement saying “Why would you bring a baby here” just so they could hear me and I could prove how I knew everything that was right and wrong. I’d like to apologize to all of those moms NOW.
If toddlers didn’t belong in fabulously-chic restaurants, then why did I suddenly find myself sitting in the corner with one… at one? Because I’m a big fat hypocrite.
And also because it happened to be my mom’s birthday this weekend. The only place she wanted to go to celebrate with her ‘three girls’ (me, my sis and LadyP) was our fave TV show’s famous eatery. After all, she drove 3 hours from her home to spend the day with all of us. (And into my mouth goes my big foot…)
So, after a phone call and several minute discussion with what must be Villa Blanca’s most gracious hostess (inquiring if people tend to bring along their young children to dine… to which she said “yes, absolutely”), I sucked it up and became the mom I swore I’d never be. I cringed as we were being seated. To my surprise, LadyP acted like a little lady (for the most part). Here are my most trivial reminders and guidelines for toting a toddler to a fancy-pants place and keeping it fab:
1) Request to sit outside in the corner… and ignore it when a ‘certain gentleman whose back is towards you’ whips around to see why your kid just yelped at the tablecloth. (She yelped twice… seriously.)
2) Take Cheerios. (What else do you think kept her focused, besides the incredible risotto I ordered?)
Image courtesy of Cheerios.com
3) Make sure you dress to match the decor, giving the impression that you ‘belong’ there… just in case Lisa walks out and sees a questionable pint-sized guest at her establishment. And I figured that LadyP’s white vest might make her blend into the background and seem invisible.
No, we didn’t spot Lisa that day (sad), but we did spy her hubby Ken Todd dashing out the front door from our table as LadyP let out a mini-squeal (I think she recognized him).
WHAT ARE YOUR TRICKS FOR TAKING YOUR TOT TO A TRES CHIC PLACE?
