By Joella Ortega
On Wednesday, Feb. 8, an etiquette dinner was held in the Viking Union Multipurpose room. Talent Acquisition Specialist Crystal Stanfield from Enterprise Holdings was the event speaker.
The dinner took place from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. with the first 30 minutes consisting of social networking.
It turns our there’s a lot more to table manners than “don’t chew with your mouth open” and “keep your elbows off the table.” For example, did you know that you’re supposed to put your name tag on the right side of your chest?
This is so the people you’re introducing yourself to can see your name when you go to shake hands. Isn’t that just grand?
Stanfield taught a lot of need-to-know information for executive dinners:
1) Your water glass is always on the right and your bread is always on the left. You can remember this by thinking of BMW or by pinching your thumb and index finger together with both your right and left hand and holding them in front of your setting. You’ll then see a “b” and a “d” in your hand gesture, which will guide you to the right drink and bread placing.
2) There are two different ways to eat your food, either the American way or the Continental way. The American way is where you cut your meat with the fork in your left hand, the knife in your right and switch the fork to your right hand to eat piece by piece. Stanfield informed the room that this way was not very time efficient, and was also looked upon as the lesser of the two. The Continental way, Stanfield said, is more worldly and wastes less time. To eat the Continental way, one must simply hold the fork in the left hand and the knife in the right. With every piece cut the knife is put down and the fork is used to eat. The fork never switches hands.
3) Never wear jeans to an etiquette dinner with executives and prospective employers! I’m kidding, she actually never said that but really… don’t do that. My mother worked in human resources for Country Wide as well as a Californian bank and she would have trashed your resume on the spot if she saw you in jeans. It’s quite unprofessional.
4) Sneeze and cough into your arm or elbow away from the table and the rest of the people dining with you. No one wants that creeping over his or her food; keep your cannonballed spit to yourself.
5) Never order more than the host. If your host orders one entrée, then you should too. Chances are, you’re not the one paying for the meal and if you order an appetizer, dinner and desert, then your host will be the one left with the expense. That’s just inconsiderate.
Also, if you’re too busy eating through a business lunch, your host will be left alone in conversation. Which brings me to my next point…
6) NEVER, EVER CHEW WITH YOUR MOUTH OPEN. That’s just disgusting and offensive; learn to eat for crying out loud. What is this, the third grade with Jimmy who’s showing you his seafood? Grow up.
7) No grooming at the table. This can apply to men but women are usually found to be the culprits. No brushing your hair or wiping your teeth. No applying lipstick or checking your teeth. Stanfield made a strong point that this was unacceptable table behavior and was to be avoided at all costs.
If you leave the table, lay your napkin on the back of your chair so the waiters know that you’re coming back. That way your full plate of food isn’t taken away when your’re powering yourself in the bathroom. I use the term “powdering” because first of all, we all know men do it, and second of all that’s all I want to imagine anyone doing in a bathroom anywhere. Ever.
9) Always watch your posture. Stanfield said sitting straight will actually help your digestive system and prevent you from getting all gassy… at either end. I’m sure company could appreciate this and I’m even more certain that if you start ripping belches or whatever else at the table with boss, you’ll find yourself without a job on Monday.
10) Don’t give too many “thank-yous” to the wait staff. Apparently one thank you at the end of dining is enough. The point is that your waiting staff is competent and they’ll understand you’re appreciative. Therefore, continuously interrupting the flow of conversation to say “thank you” to them just makes everyone feel awkward. Though… if you’re like me you’ll somewhat enjoy that feeling.
11) Grin and bear whatever gross piece of gristle you’re wanting to spit into your napkin. No one wants to see you choke something up. Though the funny part is, you’re supposed to make it go the way it came. Apparently the proper way to dispose of unwanted bites is to place it gently back onto your fork and sit it at the edge of your plate
So basically, everything all you college kids, and even perhaps myself, sometimes deem as acceptable dinner etiquette is wrong. No phones, no being picky, no pigging out and always, always chew with your mouth closed.
That’s a wrap folks. Happy eating from your sincerest of classmates.
