Peals of laughter filled the room as clouds of flour settled on the stainless steel tables, surrounded by a bevy of giggling 6-year old little girls. "Oohs", "aahs" and a few gasps soon followed as Nancy Schwab, owner of Petite Chef, took the mundane task of separating an egg and turned it into exactly the kind of "gross humor" that children love as the gooey eggwhite oozed through the "nose" of a clever kitchen gadget. The energy in the room fizzed up like the froth of a root beer float and was matched only by the pure energy of Nancy herself, a natural teacher and lifelong-lover of cooking who opened this novel business in 2010.

Located on 160 Greenwich Avenue, a stone's throw from the Warwick Mall, Nancy's Petite Chef "kids-kitchen" studio is a bright, sunny, and cheerful - but mostly - a spotless setting for children's birthday parties, book club and/or bachelorette parties, and even ladies' night out cooking parties! When local mom Alexis Cobb wanted to celebrate her daughter's 6th grade birthday at a destination that was unique, creative, hands-on and memorable, she followed the recommendation of a friend and found her way here to Nancy's Petite Chef. For a flat fee, she was given a package deal that included custom invitations, all the ingredients for a dessert to be made by up to 12 children, two hours worth of guided instruction, chef hats for each guest, a take-home dessert and all the paper goods/drinks needed. While birthday girl Lindsay chose a cookie pizza, there were other dessert options available too. Mrs. Cobb gloated about her experience with Nancy, describing her as "wonderful to work with, quick to answer my emails and calls, and full of enthusiasm" - everything you need to endure the preparations (and expectations) of a party for twelve excitable school-age children.

Nancy's experience with and love of children was evident from the moment she separated the egg to the completion of three candy-laden "pizzas". Small working groups were created and all the children were taught to be "French chefs", answering with a joyful "Oui" when asked if they wanted M & Ms on their cookie pizzas instead of bacon! Emphasis is placed on cleanliness, with frequent hand-washes and each "chef" donning a child-size apron and dishcloth for those messy spills, but Nancy doesn't mind a mess or two - she knows that children learn best when their hands are right there in the mixing bowl. This party was fast-paced, experiential, engaging, playful, and above all, fun.

If you want to make your child, friend or family member's special milestone unforgettable, then call Nancy and reserve your party at 921-2566 (evenings: 884-2426). For more details, visit them at www.petitechef.net or on facebook, and start cookin' up the fun today.