Chopstick Etiquette Using chopsticks to enjoy various Asian foods might seem more difficult than it is. But, it’s part of good dining etiquette. I got my first chopstick lesson in New York City when my daughter moved there for her first job in public relations after college. She quickly embraced the food scene and became an expert… Read More
Dining Etiquette – How to Dine with Your Boss If your boss invites you to lunch, flawless dining etiquette is essential. Whether you’re just starting out at the company or are a seasoned employee, meal time with the boss is a time to impress. In fact, the meal itself is secondary to the protocol and etiquette for business dining. Consider the event an extension of… Read More
How to Eat Oysters on the Half Shell A lovely tray of oysters on the half shell was beautifully presented to our table as an appetizer on my recent birthday dinner at the spectacular Summit Club in Tulsa. As an etiquette expert, I want to always feel I know what’s correct for any situation. But, I will admit… I committed a faux pas… Read More
People Skills, Professionalism and Protocol Important for Career Success and Advancement People skills, professionalism and protocol are never out of style. They’re important for career success and advancement. And, National Business Etiquette Week, annually the first week of June, is a good time to reflect on how to sharpen these skills. Even if your company does not provide personal professional development workshops, take the initiative yourself.… Read More
Tipping Etiquette: 9 tips on how much to tip service providers In the world of tipping…from the dog groomer to the pizza delivery person to the massage therapist…what’s the appropriate compensation? Diversity Woman Magazine tackled this topic in their summer 2015 issue, and I was honored to be the etiquette consultant they contacted for advice. Here are nine tipping dos and don’ts to help you navigate… Read More
National Pie Day: how to eat pie properly Pie is my favorite dessert… there’s coconut cream, Key Lime, pecan, Dutch apple, Door County cherry, chocolate, lemon with mile-high meringue, banana cream, mincemeat sour cream, pumpkin…and the list goes on. Pie became the iconic American dessert in the 1940s. Research by Crisco and the American Pie Council reveals that when asked what dessert Americans… Read More
Downton Abbey Dining Etiquette for Today Downton Abbey dining etiquette is not passé today. Even though most of us don’t sit down to a Downton Abbey-style dining table in homes that resemble Highclere Castle, many Edwardian dinner etiquette rules still apply today. If you’re a guest at a formal dinner party held in someone’s home or at an elegant restaurant, you’ll… Read More
Valentine Date Etiquette for the Socially Unsure Whether you’re 25 or 55, it’s important to polish your Valentine date etiquette, especially if it’s a first date…or it’s been a while since you’ve dated. Don’t let poor manners and social faux pas turn what could be a fairy tale event into an evening of foibles and lament. Here are eight ways to polish… Read More
Business Dining Etiquette: 5 Foods Not to Order at a Business Lunch At a business lunch, the focus should be on the client—not on a trail of ‘special sauce’ that escapes down the front of your shirt from an oversized burger. Two words: embarrassing, unprofessional. The best practice is to avoid ordering anything that would fall into the category of messy, awkward, hard-to-eat, or unpredictable. The benefit:… Read More
Napkin Etiquette at a Business Meal Napkin etiquette at a business meal is an often overlooked aspect of good table manners. Many people don’t think to hone this simple skill because it doesn’t come to mind until you are in the moment. From the initial seating to final table departure, it is essential to know what to do with your napkin… Read More