Meet David Rothschild of EATiQuette in North Phoenix

Today we’d like to introduce you to David Rothschild.

David, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
After a long career in the restaurant industry in Greater Phoenix, I became a culinary arts instructor at MetroTech High School. I taught what’s referred to as “front of house” — the skills necessary for entry-level positions as a restaurant server.

An instructor who taught resort occupations (now hospitality) asked me to develop a dining etiquette workshop to help her students become more confident when going on job interviews. I first presented my interactive workshop in 1989 with our culinary arts students preparing and serving a three-course meal following the “show.” Over the next 15 years, nearly 150 high school groups from around the Valley participated in the events.

In 2003, I was inducted as a Culinary Ambassador in the Scottsdale Culinary Festival Hall of Fame for my efforts to raise the profile of restaurant service as a career and for teaching Arizona students a marketable job skill.

Since my retirement from teaching, my wife Barbara and I have continued the dining etiquette workshop and table service training as EATiQuette. In all, we’ve impacted some 25,000 teens and adults with the etiquette events which are primarily held at Vincent’s on Camelback in Phoenix. We have, though, going outside the Valley to present the workshops for groups from Yuma to the Navajo Nation.

Our clients for the second facet of our business, restaurant service training, are mainly Native American Casinos located across the country. We also train high school classes in preparation for various student organization competitions. Service training programs range from a single day for high schools to several weeks for professional service teams.

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Our greatest challenge is that living in a fast food society, students haven’t learned, early on, to use utensils. They’ve never (or rarely) experienced a sequential, 3-course meal. It’s not uncommon to hear silverware clattering on the floor and nervous giggles when they attempt to use the techniques that I’m teaching.

Dining etiquette is also something that people think everyone else needs to improve. We often hear that someone’s spouse, kids, in-laws, boss, etc. could “really use your class.” The same holds true with restaurant service training. Everyone’s been to a restaurant that “could use your help.”

Working with school districts presents its own challenges. It’s increasingly difficult for teachers to get approvals, funding and transportation to participate in our training.

EATiQuette – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
We refer to my etiquette presentations as a one-man show. It’s a live, interactive event in which attendees are encouraged to answer questions and share their own experiences.

This isn’t a “prissy, pinky-pointing” approach and it’s not a Powerpoint presentation of the do’s and don’ts of dining. I structure the workshop to walk participants through all of the situations they’re likely to encounter when attending a formal event. So they’ll be more confident and comfortable when they attend weddings, business meetings or family functions.

I address life skills in an approachable way and the students and instructors respond to it. Students often tell us how much fun they had at the workshop as well as how much they’ve learned. We’ve bumped into former participants all over the Valley who tell us they still remember and use the skills we’ve taught them.

Another thing I’m really proud of is that we’ve published two books, EATiQuette’s The Main Course on Dining Etiquette and EATiQuette’s The Main Course on Table Service, to provide training to those that can’t attend our workshop lunches or service training programs. It’s fun to see, via the internet, that our books are being used all over the world.

What is “success” or “successful” for you?
Well, it’s certainly not financially. We don’t generate huge profits. But I love what I’m doing and will continue to do the etiquette workshops for as long as I can.

Contact Info:

• Website: http://www.eatiquette.com
• Email: info@eatiquette.com

Image Credit:
Barbara Rothschild
video by Gary Orlando Mason, 5e Media

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