EATING TOGETHER

MEAL TIMES

Q

uiet, set time each day

S

pontaneous dropping by of friends and family to eat a casual meal

T

ime to catch up on everyone’s day

T

he way food is served depends on the number of people, menu, and

space available

SERVING FOODF

amily style service• Dinner plates are placed at each person’s seat• Food is served in dishes on the table• Dishes are passed so that people may help themselves

P

late service• Individual plates are prepared in the kitchen and taken to the table

H

ead-of table service• Special occasion meals

• Person at the head of the table serves food on plate and passes it down the table to each person

B

uffets• Way to serve people when there are too many to sit around table • Dishes, flatware, napkins, and serving dishes of food are placed on a table/ counter and

people help themselves

ADVANTAGES/ DISADVANTAGES TO EACH

STYLE?F

amily style?

P

late service?

H

ead of table?

B

uffet?

H

ow do you properly pass food for each style?

C

hallenge: plan an easy prepare meal for your family to have time to set together and enjoy

each other’s company. Use one of the styles above. We will discuss experiences next week.

TABLE SETTING

A

re you ever confused by arrangement of plates, glasses, and flatware?

E

xcept at picnics and buffets, most tables have individual place settings- arrangement of flatware and table

ware for each person

T

here is a logical organization for this

T

ableware includes dishes, glasses and flatware ( eating utensils)

E

ach place setting has at least one plate, fork, glass, knife, spoon, and napkin

D

epending on the food being served, other tableware may be used

PLACE SETTING ACTIVITY

P

g. 44o in the book

G

o over formal place setting

TABLE MANNERS

E

tiquette- accepted rules of behavior at a meal

K

nowing etiquette can give you confidence in different

social settings

TABLE MANNERS P

lace napkin in your lap

N

ot sure what flatware to use, observe what the person at the head of the table is using

U

se serving forks and spoons to serve food

C

ut one bite of food at a time and then eat it

E

at quietly

C

hew with your mouth closed

A

void talking while you have food in your mouth

I

f food is too hot, wait until it cools

Y

ou can use your fingers to eat foods like sandwiches, bread, carrots, celery, pizza

A

fter eating, put your knife and fork across the center of the plate and your napkin to the left of the plate

EATING OUT

O

rdering from the menu

B

ehaving in a restaurant

P

aying the bill and tipping

ORDERING FROM THE MENU

M

enus are divided into courses- parts of meals • Example: appetizers, soups, salads, entrees, desserts, and beverages• Appetizer is an optional first course• Entrée- the main course

I

tems will be listed and priced in two ways:• May be listed separately- a la carte ( individual pricing for each item)• May list a complete meal for a price

• Make note of what is included in the meal

BEHAVING IN A RESTAURANT

M

ost people want to eat, talk quietly, and enjoy themselves

D

o not be loud and disruptive to the people around you

I

f you need something during the meal, politely ask the waiter/ waitress

T

hey will generally stop at the table periodically to check on your needs while you

are eating

I

f the problem is urgent, get the server’s attention by raising your hand

PAYING THE BILL AND TIPPING

E

nd of the meal- pay

I

f the check isn’t given to you-ask for it

W

ho pays? Try to agree before you get to the restaurant

I

f you invite someone out, be clear about who is paying

I

f you’re invited out and its not clear about who is paying- bring enough money so you can cover you

own bill just in case

C

heck the bill to be sure it is accurate

S

ales tax is usually added to the bill

TIPPING

I

t is customary to tip 15-20 percent of the bill before tax

T

he tip is for service, not food

W

hen large groups dine in, some restaurants automatically add a service charge- in this case you don’t have to leave a tip

S

ome checks may say “Pay the cashier”

L

eave a tip at the table and pay on the way out

O

ften the server will take your check and money to the cashier

W

hen you get change, tip the server

I

f you are not sure what to do, ask someone

ACTIVITIES

P

ractice tipping

P

ractice taking orders- fast food, casual dining, fancy

dining