TIP

Tip is an acronym for To Insure Promptitude. Here in America generally speaking the wait staff in a restaurant survive on their tips. They are paid less per hour as their tip money makes up the balance of an hourly rate. That being so, we probably all have at least one horror story we could share about bad service, my question is why? It’s not a right of passage that we have to TIP, it is a direct reflection on how you treat others. Having a bad day at work, whether you are in an office situation or serving food in a restaurant is no place for your personal problems. Once you walk through the doorway you need to leave your personal life behind you. Believe me all of your problems and issues will be there right where you left them when you get off your shift. Use the workplace to be present, focused and free of whatever is bugging you. If you can’t take the heat (of being in the public eye) then get out of the kitchen, so to speak. If you are outgoing, courteous and forward thinking it will show in the stash you will collect from your patrons, bad economy or not. Being a waitress or waiter is a direct reflection on you. Your nightly or daily take-home is all about you; the good, the bad or the ugly.

Finger food tips

Ask Merry Tip: An open-faced sandwich can be considered finger food if it is small and will not fall apart when picked up.

Finger food

Ask Merry:Yes asparagus is finger food well maybe not when it’s smothered in hollandaise sauce and running down your arms, not a good sight.

Dining your way to success

Ask Merry Tip:More than half of all business is finalized over the dining table, how are your dining skills? Check out http://ping.fm/HtV4U

Cordial is a drink but also a way of being

Ask Merry Tip: When you are the host, delay your business discussion until coffee and dessert. Ask questions to encourage conversation.

Dining etiquette for the host

Ask Merry Tip: Dining at a restaurant, the host guides the server to take the guests order first, the host orders last.

Utensil and napkin to do’s

Ask Merry Tip:When finished eating place your utensils across your plate at the 10 and 4 o’clock positions, napkin folded beside your plate.

Napkin etiquette

Ask Merry: Your napkin is to remain on your lap during the meal except to blot your mouth if you leave the table napkin goes on your chair.

Keep it clean

Ask Merry Tip:The dining table is not your domain. Keep your cell phone and other items to yourself and off the table. What’s your dilemma?

The dreaded First Date, and what NOT to eat!

One of the great things about being married is not having to go out on a first date again. All the anticipation, what to wear, where to meet, what if he/she wants a kiss or worse, what if he/she doesn’t? Will I really like this person, what am I doing anyway, maybe I shouldn’t go, my hands and arm pits are sweaty what do I do about that. So not only do you have all of this mindset stuff to contend with, we also have to figure out what to eat without making a total fool out of ourselves.

With this in mind, let me make some suggestions: Spaghetti and sushi are just out, consider them outlawed from first dates. Unless you know how to eat them without slobbering or having a wad of food in the side of your cheek, just forget about them. If you happen to go to an Italian restaurant have ziti or tortellini which are bite size noodles. In a Japanese restaurant stick to soup, or a meal that has bite size pieces, no that doesn’t mean lo mein, that is Japanese spaghetti type noodles.

Other first date disasters are ribs, yicks. Juice running down your hands, goop under your nails, pieces of meat and sauce logged in your teeth. Not a good look.

Oysters, okay so they are an aphrodisiac and that maybe where you are heading with this date but again eat something else. Not a good idea to gulp a piece of slippery fish with juices. I’ve seen way too many disasters with this food.

Mexican food is another one that you have to be careful with, not only is there a lot of food in this diet that you hold in your hand to eat but with the onslaught of beans, you also have VAPORS (if you know what I mean). Bad, just bad. It’s not called the musical fruit for nothing.

One of my favorite foods is corn on the cob. Well, here again is a smile that says a thousand words. There really is no graceful way to use a toothpick and never, never, never; did I say NEVER pick your teeth at the table or in front of someone.

Garlic, loved by many but unless you are both eating it, stay away. If your intention is to have a good night kiss then re-think what you are putting in your mouth.

Foods that have little seeds in them are also dangerous. Yesterday I stopped by a fabulous little coffee shop called “Global Sidewalk Café” in Bonita, California and had a great everything bagel. Yeah, you guessed it, my teeth were covered in poppy seeds. No smiling allowed.
So now here it is Friday night again and you’re getting ready for that hopefully HOT date, take these dining tips into consideration, then relax and have a great time. I hope that he/she is everything you are looking for.