News & Politics

Learning to Be a Gentleman 101: From Aphrodisiacs to Roulette

As Daniel Craig takes on the role of 007 this fall in Casino Royale, have you ever wondered how James Bond got so suave?

Jason Tesauro, who coauthored the book The Modern Gentleman: A Guide to Essential Manners, Savvy & Vice, is giving Washington men a chance to learn the finer points. His five-part course, taught at the Ritz-Carlton Tysons Corner, covers a range of manly skills and arts.

The first class, in September, featured after-dinner spirits like Armagnac and an introduction to cigars. Other classes include the topics of Tesauro’s most recent book, The Modern Lover —jewels, gems, and aphrodisiacs.

Two party tricks will be the subject of the November class, where participants will learn the art of carving a turkey as well as the art of sabering a Champagne bottle—a style developed by Napoleon’s cavalry whereby a bottle of bubbly is beheaded with a blow to the top by a heavy knife, sending the cork and bottle top soaring across the room.

In December, after Bond has hit the big screen, “Casino Classics” will cover how to play baccarat, roulette, and craps with the best of them—as well as how to make and sip a good martini—during a black-tie evening with an executive from Harrah’s.

Sadly, no Bond women are included in the class fee.