Dining etiquette gets a place on syllabus

By Zenaida Serrano Espanol
Advertiser Staff Writer

Under the guidance of members of Les Dames d'Escoffier at their tables, fifth-graders toast each other at a dining etiquette course. Eugene Tanner • The Honolulu Advertiser

These students were invited to an elegant dinner party, actually held during lunch, to receive a crash course on proper behavior, or etiquette, while dining out.

In a school-library-turned-classy restaurant, complete with fresh orchid centerpieces, colorful namecards designed by the students themselves, beautiful silverware and French background music, the students experienced what it would be like to eat in a sophisticated atmosphere.

The event was presented by the Hawai'i Chapter of Les Dames d'Escoffier, an organization of women who are leaders in the fields of food, fine beverage and hospitality. The women wanted "simply to share with kids the pleasures of sitting down and enjoying food," said Donna Jung, president of the organization.

The students learned many things including how to use a napkin, even learning how to fold a bird of paradise flower out of the napkin; how to use utensils; how men should seat women, pulling out their chair for them and pushing it in; how to make a toast (not the kind with bread), using sparkling cider, of course; and how to be an active part of the dining conversation.

Jerome Fernandez, 9, said it's important for kids to learn dining etiquette "because if somebody asks you out to dinner, the person that asks you to go out, they won't think that you didn't learn (manners)," he said.

For many of the kids, the best part of the party was the delicious meal. "The food is great," said 10-year-old Jennyliz Ordonez as she enjoyed a mixed salad and creamy vinaigrette dressing.

The menu, or "le menu" in French, included chilled leek, potato and cream soup; stew of chicken and roasted garlic mashed potatoes; and to top it all off, yummy "mousse au chocolat," or chocolate mousse.

"They were very worried about escargot," Pu'uhale fifth grade teacher Erlene Tom said and laughed. But much to the students' relief, the snails popular in French cuisine were not on the menu.