Dining Etiquette

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Dining Etiquette

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Meet and Greet

• First impressions are lasting, and it is
  sometimes the only opportunity you may have.
  Therefore, a powerful and lasting introduction
  can give you the edge when meeting new people for
  the first time.

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Introductions-The Handshake

• Make sure you have eye contact
• Firm but painless
• Takes one or two pumps
• Be prepared . to shake hands at a cocktail hour.
  (Leave a hand free to meet and greet others)
• When introducing yourself, give someone personal
  identification
• (ExampleHello, Im Cindy Brown with Enterprise
  Rent-A-Car)

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Your Body Speaks Before You DoBody language can
answer questions quicker than you can. Watch
for these telltale signs.

• Signs of Confidence
• uncross your legs
• move to the end of your chair
• lean toward the person
• steeple your hands
• thrust your chin slightly upward
• nod your head
• gesture moderately
• initiate and maintain eye contact
• use a loud clear voice
• vary your positions
• vary your posture

• Signs of Nervousness
• cover your mouth
• scratch your nose, head, ears
• tug your clothes, jewelry, pen (etc.)
• slump
• look down, avoid eye contact
• make unpleasant or inappropriate facial
  expressions
• look away
• keep your body rigid
• hunch your shoulders
• verbal pauses (um, ah, uh, etc.)

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Why Dining Etiquette?

• A lunch interview or meeting is not a meeting
  with food. It is a true test of your social
  skills and your level of sophistication. Your
  host wants to see how you handle yourself in a
  social setting. Remember, it is a test!
• Its polite to have proper dining skills when
  representing yourself or your company

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Arrival

• Arrive 15 minutes early
• Wait for host/guest in the lobby
• Make sure you are standing when they arrive and
  reach out to shake their hand

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Once Seated The Napkin

• Wait for the host to make the first move
• Leave main fold in place away from your body
• Never flap!
• When you leave the table, rest the napkin on your
  chair
• When finished with your meal, do not refold the
  napkin lay it to the left of your plate

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Ordering

• Drink orders are taken first no alcohol! If
  your host is drinking alcohol, drink at the ratio
  of 1 (of yours) to 2 (of theirs)
• Its usual to spend 5-10 minutes talking before
  opening the menu after drinks are ordered
• Follow the lead of your host when looking at the
  menu

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Ordering

• Order the same number of courses as your host
  (i.e. salad, main course, beverage)
• If unsure of price range ask the host what they
  recommend
• Do not study the menu!
• Avoid the wild food!

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Place Setting

• If all else fails, remember the b and d rule!

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Eating Step One

• When cutting a piece of food, place your fork in
  your left hand with the handle hidden in the palm
  of your hand and the fork tines down. Place the
  knife in your right hand with the handle hidden
  and the serrated edge facing the plate

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Eating

• Step Two After cutting the piece of food, lay
  your knife across the top of your plate with the
  serrated edge facing you. Transfer the fork from
  your left hand to your right with the fork handle
  now showing between your index finger and thumb
  and the tines facing up
• Step Three After chewing and swallowing the
  food, repeat the first three steps

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Eating

• Step Four When you choose to lay your utensils
  down to rest or to listen more intently to the
  people with whom you are dining, the rest
  position is to place your knife across the top of
  the plate with the serrated edge towards you.
  Place your fork, tines up, with its handle
  resting on the lower right side of the plate

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Eating

• Step Five When you are finished, place your
  fork across the center of the plate with the
  handle to the right and the fork tines down.
  Bring your knife from across the top of the plate
  and place it next to the fork with the blade
  still facing you
• Remember Keep with the pace of others!

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Meal Time Basics

• Cutlery. Dont wave your knife in the air to
  make a point, and dont put silverware partly on
  the table and partly on your plate. Once a piece
  of cutlery is picked up off the table it should
  never touch it again

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Meal Time Basics

• Napkins. Dont blot or rub dab. Dont wave it
  around or flap gently unfold and leave it on
  your lap. When you leave the table remember to
  lay it on your chair and when finished, loosely
  lay it to the left of your plate

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Meal Time Basics

• Chewing. Never chew with your mouth open.
  Never. Even if you feel you must add your words
  at the perfect moment, wait until you have
  swallowed
• Thank your waiter or waitress.

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Meal Time Basics

• Appearance. No elbows in the table and sit up
  straight
• Bread. Tear roll or slice in to bite size pieces
  and butter each one just before eating it. Do
  not butter the whole slice at the beginning
• Speed. Watch your pace. Have the same number of
  courses as your host/guests

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Meal Time Basics

• Picking. If you have something trapped in your
  teeth, dont pick! If you must, excuse yourself
  and pick in the restroom
• Lipstick. Do not leave a lipstick trail. Blot
  before dinner (not at the table)

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Meal Time Basics

• Purses, Briefcases. Keep all items off of the
  table. This includes keys, eyeglasses, pens,
  basically anything that is not part of the meal

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Meal Time Basics

• Soup. Scoop with the spoon tilted away from you.
  Dont slurp, drink or dribble. Dont blow on it
  if it is hot (wait) and dont crumble crackers in
  it. When done, leave the spoon in the soup plate
  or rest it on the saucer if it is a soup cup

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Meal Time Basics

• Salt and pepper shakers- They are married, pass
  them together. Dont divorce the salt and pepper.
• Passing-Offer to the left then go to the right
• Seasoning-Only after you taste the food first
• Cutting your food-Only enough for one mouthful
• Dining Etiquette-Dont draw attention to your
  correct use of etiquette or to mistakes

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Meal Time Basics

• Pace Yourself-When your host is done you are done
• Necktie-Do not flip or tuck your tie!
• Ask for items to be passed-Do not reach across
  the table

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The Least You Should Know

• When meeting someone in a restaurant, wait in the
  lobby unless otherwise requested.
• If you are the first to be seated, wait until
  everyone has arrived before ordering a beverage
• Determine the price range by asking the host,
  What do you recommend?

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The Least You Should Know

• Order the basics (salad, main course, beverage).
  Only order an appetizer or dessert if your host
  suggests it
• Knives and spoons on the right forks and napkins
  on the left
• Use cutlery from the outside in.
• Remember b (bread on left) and d (drinks on
  right)

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The Least You Should Know

• Never call attention to the dining mistakes of
  yourself or others!

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In Conclusion Your Image!

• Perception is reality, so your image is very
  important. It will follow you wherever you go.
  Therefore, it is important that you strive to
  project a positive image one that you will be
  proud of at all times.

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Any Questions?