Join us on Wednesday, April 18th

The Fiftheenth Annual Hospitality Day at the State House, featuring A Taste of South Carolina, is the restaurant and hotel industry’s day to emphasize to state lawmakers on the importance of foodservice, lodging and tourism to the state’s economy.

Restauran Participation Sign-up

Showcase what your restaurant has to offer.

By participating, you can ensure that laws are written to support your business.

Taste of South Carolina Restaurant Participation Agreement

This one luncheon has made an extremely favorable impression on legislators. When they debate bills that impact your business, they listen closer to industry lobbyists as to how a piece of legislation affects you. Hospitality Day has helped us defeat bad legislation and get good laws passed.

Because of its importance to the legislative process, we must make sure the day is successful for everyone involved, including your restaurant. Your participation and understanding of the expectations is crucial to making that happen.

To control crowds and unwanted guests, this year we will again be fencing entire area. Inside the fence, each restaurant will be provided an 10 foot by 10 foot tent.

For the Taste of South Carolina luncheon, the hosts will provide:

• A 10’ by 10’ tent for each restaurant (if you want to use your own, it must be 10 x 10. Please notify us in advance of your plans) In the event it calls for rain, a large tent will cover the area and each restaurant will be provided a space inside the tent
• Two 8 foot tables with linens per restaurant. (you may bring additional tables)
• 6" plates, forks, knives, spoons and napkins to serve a sampling of your menu to our guests. (we ask that you do not bring large plates or to-go boxes or individual plastic ware packets.)
• Tables and chairs with linens for our guests seating
• Water and Soda
• All invitations and printed materials including name tags and signs to control un-invited guests.
• Trash collection and pickup for the guests use
• Recycling bins for aluminum, plastic and cardboard.  
• 110V electricity on site offered on a First Come First Served basis and will be available to restaurants that request such from a single 110V outlet. Restaurant must provide sufficient power cords and outlets to get power to and within their space.

Each participating restaurant must provide:

• A “taste” of your menu, suggested portion sizes limited to 3 or 4 ounces
• Enough portions to provide a “taste” for an estimated 300 to 400 patrons. More popular menu items might dictate more portions
• Enough staffing to prepare and serve for a period of up to two hours
• The ability to provide “hot foods hot,” and “cold foods cold.”
• Any cooking, holding, serving equipment and utensils need to provide a quality product and to do so under normal DHEC guidelines.
• Hand washing container, soap and towels to meet DHEC guidelines
• Appropriate signage and/or decor to promote your restaurant

Rules of the day:

• While we anticipate our VIP guests will join us at 11:30am, we must be prepared for late arrival if the General Assembly cannot break for lunch until later.
• Metered parking spaces along Assembly Street, adjacent to the “Taste” area will be reserved for participating restaurants.  Only two parking passes/spaces per restaurant will be available.
• All trucks and delivery vehicles MUST BE OFF THE STATE HOUSE GROUNDS NO LATER THAN 11:30 AM. Vehicles will not be allowed to enter the grounds after 11:15 AM or until after the luncheon is completely over.
• Restaurants must follow DHEC guidelines for catered events including having a hand-washing station.
• Restaurants cannot “break down” until after the luncheon is completely over, even in the event you run out of food.
• No portion control (pc) salt and pepper packets are permitted.

Restaurant Participation Sign-up Form