Manners That Matter Class Curriculum
Topics of Dining Etiquette
DAY 1
1. Defining:
What is a Dining Experience vs. Eating a Meal?
Where can a Dining Experience take place?
(Depends on differences of intimate & large party)
· Restaurants
· Venues
· Private Residence
· Indoor and Outdoor
2. Preparing for a Dining Experience
A. When you are invited: RSVP
· The Phone Call
· The Text
· The E-Vite (email, link, or social media)
· The Mail In
B. When you are the lead: The Reservation
· How many in group
· Special needs of those in group (wheelchair, high chairs, child appropriate, allergies)
· Special Celebrations (anniversary, birthdays, honoring)
· The Phone Call vs. the Electronic Booking
C. Transportation Planning
· Parking (use of meters, blocking others in at residence)
· Valet (How to, importance of TIP)
· Time Management – planning in traffic time, getting ready time, the to-and-from other locations that day
D. Attire Planning
· Indoor vs. Outdoor shoes
· Weather awareness for outfit type, hair, and makeup
· Appropriateness for Hawaii casual, business, and formal
3. Arrival at Dining Location: Checking In & Greeting
A. At a Restaurant or Public Venue
· How to Talk to the Hostess
· Awaiting a Lead
· Being Sat (chair pull out, respect of eldest first, silencing phone)
B. At a Private Residence or Private Party
· Shoes (Hawaii style vs. elsewhere)
· Checking in with Guest Log and Signing
· Greeting New Faces (Hawaii style of hug, kiss on cheek, vs. the handshake)
· Finding Host/Person who invited you (being sure they know you came, compliments, thank yous, small talk)
· Seating Arrangements (name plates, head of table, left handed vs. right handed)
C. Gifts
· When invited for a celebration or honoring (leis, birthdays, cash)
· When invited to a home for dining (appetizer, dessert, flowers for host)
· Where to put gifts and leave traceability (for thank you card)
4. How to Socialize (To practice with each other in workshop)
A. Why is Socializing Important?
B. Introductions
· Icebreakers
· Questions to get things going
C. How to steer conversations to the positive (redirecting)
D. Excusing self (when, why, and how)
E. Word Usage
DAY 2
5. Beginning Your Meal: At the Table
A. Clean Hygiene
· Hand washing
· Dirt Free Nails
· Fresh Breath
· Checking Teeth
· Body Odor
B. Awaiting Service
· What your server will bring (bread, water, menus)
· How to order drinks (Tea, Coffee, Juice)
· How to order food (Appetizer, Main, Desert)
C. Self-Service (for buffet, luau, or potluck)
· Being Called by Table in formal setting
· Respect of Eldest First (and then to the mothers with young children, etc.…)
6. Table Manners
A. Use of Utensils and Setting
(With printed handout drawing/sketch)
1) Napkin – what for and how to
2) Fork – regular eating vs. use with knife
3) Knife – cutting meats, use for vegetables, steak knife vs. dinner
4) Spoon – soup, sauce, and tea spoons, the way to scoop soup
5) Plate – appetizer plate, main plate
6) Bread or Pastry Plate (for tea)
7) Water Cup
8) Alternative Drink – Juice, Coffee, or TEA***
· Using each set for each course
· New set to be used for next course
· How to show with utensils and body language that you are finished with each course
B. Appropriate Eating Actions
· When to begin eating (awaiting direction, finishing a blessing, cues from the host/head of table)
· How to butter bread
· Small bites of food
· Covering of mouth, Mouth closed while eating
· Sipping water and drinks instead of slurping
· Awaiting Tea Infusing and the Use of Cream and Sugar***
· Addressing Coughing, Burping, Sneeze at table
· Excusing self and reasons why
· Pace of eating in relation to others at table
· Asking for items to be passed to you from others
· Asking for items from the server
· Elbows and hand placements
· Use of Technology at Table (selfies, texts, sounds, posting)
· Not liking the food (what not to do)
C. Appropriate Speech and Conversation
· Common things for whole table (whether, current events, food)
· Complimenting (outfits, hair, new job, a sport, a post you liked)
· Stay away from stressful topics (negative gossip like breakups, hard times, or political controversies that cause taking sides)
7. Ending the Dining Experience
A. In Intimate Setting at a Private Residence – possible need to help clean up
B. In Restaurant Setting – Paying the bill (TIPPING)
C. When to leave (not leaving too soon, not overstaying in a busy restaurant after already paying bill)
D. Saying Goodbye and Thank You