Tips for Students

Formal Restaurant Staff Roles

Chef – The man or woman who the restaurant revolves around. They are often the owners, or creators of the restaurant’s concept.

Maitre d’ – The Maitre d’ greets diners, and seats them, and oversees your entire dining experience. Will often have a good grasp of the city’s social and political scene.

Your Serving Team Captain – The head of the team. Carries out most of the communication with the guests. Will explain the menu, take your order, and will make sure everything is satisfactory about your meal and dining experience.

Front Waiter – In charge of cocktails, the dessert presentation and the check presentation.

Back Waiter – The liaison between the table team and the kitchen. Runs food to and from the kitchen. Will also assist the Captain and Front Waiter.

Tips for Students

Formal Restaurant Staff Roles

Busperson – Supports the other team members. Will also serve you water, bread and coffee. Clears and resets the table throughout the meal.

Sommelier – Selects and procures wines for the restaurant and suggests or chooses wines for the guests. In a more formal restaurant, the Sommelier will have a professional certification.

Bar Manager – If a restaurant has a separate bar, there will be a manager to oversee it. Chooses and maintains wine, beer and liquor. He typically is good at remembering, and taking care of, repeat customers.

Reservations and Reception – The front line, either phone or in person. In a more exclusive restaurant, expect outstanding attention to details and dates, and a high level of discretion. If seated at the bar of a formal restaurant, someone will send your drink to your table, if you have not finished it. Do not pick it up and take it with you.

Tips for Students

Setting a Formal Table

Tips for Students

Personal Thank Yous

Dear ‘person’s name that you address them as’, (followed by a comma)
The body of the note should line up under the ‘Dear’.
The body of the letter should state what the gift is, how you will use it or where you have placed it and how much you appreciate it.
Conclusion indented at the end the word ‘Sincerely’, ‘Love’, or ‘Thanks again’, (followed by a comma) the last line,
Sign your name

The body of the letter should not say ‘thank you for the gift’ (be specific about what it is) ‘thank you for the $50. that you sent me’ (when it comes to money, the amount does not need to be mentioned – ‘Thank you for the money’ is appropriate) anything negative or unpleasant (i.e. that you already have one). Never type a personal thank you note – always write it on appropriate stationary (not notebook paper)

Tips for Students

Personal Thank Yous

Personal Thank You Note Example
Dear Don,

Thank you very much for the personalized stationary that you sent me for my Birthday. It is just what I needed, since I am going off to college. It will be nice to keep in touch with people in style. I really appreciate your thoughtfulness. I will look forward to seeing you at Christmas break. I hope you have a great semester at U.T. Say hi to John and Will for me.

Thanks again,
Brad

Elise McVeigh

HEAD TEACHER & CURRICULUM CREATOR

Elise McVeigh, “Mrs. McVeigh,” is the creator of Mrs. McVeigh’s Manners. She has been teaching children manners for over 20 years, and is always looking for ways to make the classes more fun. She has a lot of help teaching her classes, including her “Temporary Assistant” Professor Weldon Maynard. She hopes kids enjoy all of the storybooks that she has written about teaching with Professor Maynard, as well as the videos that she has created with her dogs Daxx and Ashton.

Professor Weldon Maynard

Professor Weldon Maynard (pronounced mannered)is Mrs. McVeigh’s “Temporary Assistant.” Professor Maynard’s lab blew up in a science experiment that he was doing at the University where he teaches. He and his assistant Billy the Bird got out of the lab unhurt, but he is waiting for the lab to get fixed. In the meantime, Professor Maynard was filling in for his niece Kimmie, who was Mrs. McVeigh’s teaching assistant. When Kimmie went back to college, he kept on filling in for her. Now he is Mrs. McVeigh’s “Temporary Assistant.”

Ceslyn Mathis

INSTRUCTOR

Ceslyn Mathis, “Ms. Mathis,” is Mrs. McVeigh’s best friend from college who became a school teacher. Mrs. McVeigh needed help with classes close to where Ms. Mathis lives, so she started teaching for Mrs. McVeigh. She also helps out with classes when Mrs. McVeigh and Professor Maynard have a lot of students in a class.

Billy the Bird

Billy the Bird is Professor Maynard’s lab assistant and best friend. Where Professor Maynard goes, Billy the Bird follows. Billy is not your average bird. He is very intelligent and helps Professor Maynard whenever he needs it. (He seems to need help often.) Billy is reliable, and all of the kids in the manners classes really like him.

Daxx the Dog

Daxx the Dog is one of Mrs. McVeigh’s dogs. Daxx likes to hang out with the kids when Mrs. McVeigh has classes at her house. He also can be seen giving video manners tips on Mrs. McVeigh’s Manners social media, and during manners classes.

Ashton the Dog

Ashton the Dog is also one of Mrs. McVeigh’s dogs. Only 3 ½ pounds, Ashton is larger than life with her personality. Ashton has decided that she is the real star of the Mrs. McVeigh’s Manners show and classes. She will let you know this on the videos that she does, giving tips on manners for kids.

Griffin McVeigh

Griffin McVeigh is the oldest son of Mrs. McVeigh. He is 13 years-old and is one of his mom’s Jr. Assistants for her classes. Griffin would like to be a sports writer when he grows up, but likes helping kids with their manners while he is still in school. His favorite Mrs. McVeigh’s Manners lesson is about Sportsmanship.

Grant McVeigh

Grant McVeigh is Mrs. McVeigh’s middle son. At age 11, he has always been able to keep up with everything that his older brother Griffin does. He loves sports, but dreams of being like his dad someday, and manage people’s money for a living. He is an asset to the Mrs. McVeigh’s Manners team as a Jr. Assistant, because he likes correcting kid’s manners and behavior.

Reagan McVeigh

Reagan McVeigh is age 9, and a good Jr. Assistant during Mrs. McVeigh’s classes. He gets told what to do by his older brother’s all of the time, so he is good at (and enjoys) being the one to tell younger kids how to behave during class.

Tips for Students

Formal Restaurant Staff Roles

Tips for Students

Formal Restaurant Staff Roles

Tips for Students

Setting a Formal Table

Tips for Students

Personal Thank Yous

Tips for Students

Personal Thank Yous

Elise McVeigh

HEAD TEACHER & CURRICULUM CREATOR

Professor Weldon Maynard

Ceslyn Mathis

INSTRUCTOR

Billy the Bird

Daxx the Dog

Ashton the Dog

Griffin McVeigh

Grant McVeigh

Reagan McVeigh

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Sad Occasions and Thank You Notes – Themes of the Week