| For the past month you have been attending more | | | | attempt the skewered meat and dipping sauce, have |
| than the usual number of parties and receptions, and | | | | a napkin in hand help you manage the runoff. Hold a |
| the end is not yet in sight. You knew before you | | | | napkin under any food eaten with your fingers. |
| arrived at these business related events that you | | | | It is easier to manage food that is passed, but before |
| were expected to be on your best professional | | | | you take one of those giant stuffed mushrooms, |
| behavior. No letting down your guard so you prepared | | | | consider what will happen if you pop the entire thing |
| ahead of time. | | | | into your mouth or if you bite into that juicy tidbit. If |
| You thought about who would be there, what you | | | | there is risk involved, wait to see what else comes |
| would wear, and what you might talk about. You had | | | | along. |
| something to eat before you went so you wouldn't | | | | When food is served with a toothpick, discard it |
| rush straight for the bar and the buffet table. You | | | | properly. The toothpick never goes back on the |
| arrived on time so you wouldn't have to play catch up | | | | serving tray. If a container is not provided, put the |
| or interrupt people already locked in conversation. | | | | toothpick in your napkin, on your plate, if you have one, |
| After working the room a while, you decided to eat. Of | | | | or on the tray that the server is using to collect empty |
| course, you stopped at the bar first so with drink in | | | | glasses. |
| hand, you headed for the hors d'oeuvres, picked up the | | | | And keep in mind that double dipping is forbidden. Once |
| chicken on a skewer, dipped it into the sauce and took | | | | you have dipped the asparagus in sauce, you don't get |
| a bite. Unfortunately the chicken didn't slide right off the | | | | another opportunity with the same item. You want |
| skewer so you began tugging at it with your teeth. | | | | more sauce; have another asparagus. |
| About that time the boss walked up. There you were | | | | If you end up with something in your mouth that you |
| with a glass in one hand, chicken in the other and | | | | don't like or can't chew, transfer it from your mouth to |
| sauce running down your chin. Two questions came to | | | | your napkin when no one is looking. Then find a |
| mind: how did you get into this mess and how are you | | | | wastebasket or the tray for the used plates and |
| going to get out of it? An ounce of prevention was | | | | glasses. |
| definitely worth a pound of cure. | | | | Proceeding with caution and remembering that these |
| Here's how you might have avoided this humiliation | | | | events are not about the food will keep you out of |
| altogether. | | | | embarrassing situations. |
| Do one thing at a time. Either have a drink or a bite to | | | | (c) 2006, Lydia Ramsey. All rights in all media reserved. |
| eat. It is difficult to juggle food and beverage and still | | | | Reprint rights granted so long as the article and by-line |
| have a hand free for shaking hands. | | | | are published intact with all links made live. |
| Avoid any foods that may get messy. If you do | | | | |