Case Study
Mary was hosting a dinner with her colleagues to celebrate a recent and very profitable business deal.
Several days before the dinner, she checked in with everyone to see if there were any dietary
restrictions she’d need to keep in mind.
At the dinner, everyone was seated around Mary’s table and had their foot. John, one of the new hires,
had tucked his napkin into his shirt. Everyone else had their napkins on their laps. Throughout the meal
he picked at his teeth and spoke with his mouth full, and even spit food out that he didn’t like. At the
end of the dinner, everyone thanked Mary for hosting. John, however, was not invited to any more
dinners : DISCUSS

Multiple Choice Questions :

1) What kind of atmosphere do the business meals make compared to the office?
a) More private
b) More casual
c) More official
d) More tense

2) Which of the following statements IS NOT true?
a) Solids are on the left, liquids are on the right
b) Forks are on right, knives and spoons are on the left of the plate
c) Place settings differ depending on the menu and the formality of the dining event
d) The oyster fork is always placed on right

3) When do you unfold your napkin and place it on your lap?
a) When you sit
b) When everyone is seated
c) When you start eating a meal which can cause you a mess
d) Whenever you want, there is no special rule

4) Which of the following statements IS NOT true?
a) If you leave the table during a dinner, you need to place your napkin on the table
b) When you are finished dining, you should place your napkin neatly on the table to the left
side of the plate
c) If you drop your napkin on the floor, you should discreetly ask the waiter or host for another
one
d) Your napkin should remain on your lap throughout the entire meal

5) When it comes to business, you:
a) Shouldn’t talk about it during the meal under any circumstances
b) Shouldn’t talk about it, unless the senior members want to do so
c) Should talk about it, because that is the purpose of a business meal
d) Can talk about it if you want, there are no rules or restrictions

6) Which of the following IS NOT considered rude during the meal?
a) Picking your teeth
b) Applying make-up
c) Combing your hair
d) Keeping your elbows off the table

7) What is the best solution to the following sticky situation: A colleague is using the wrong utensil.
a) You correct your colleague
b) You try to indicate it to your colleague through a joke
c) You try to let your colleague know it by using the right one yourself
d) You ignore it

8) What is the best solution to the following sticky situation: You have put something in your
mouth that doesn’t agree with you.
a) You swallow it no matter what
b) You spit it in your spoon and put it on the edge of your plate
c) You go to the bathroom and get rid of it there
d) You ask the waiter for a napkin, discretely spit the food and place the napkin under a side of
your plate.

Case Study
Harry was attending a post-work dinner with several colleagues, and they had chosen to go to a small
Italian restaurant down the street. After they had all ordered their meals, Harry asked for a glass of red
wine. No one else had ordered alcohol, but Harry assumed they would get their wine with their meal
while he preferred his before.
When everyone’s meal had come, they still hadn’t ordered wine. Harry felt embarrassed, but decided
against calling further attention to it. One of Harry’s colleagues offered to pick up the tab. Harry argued
with him, saying that he should cover as he had ordered wine. After Harry’s behavior, he was left out of
post-work plans for a long time: DISCUSS

Multiple Choice Questions :

1) What do you do if your associate seems indecisive at a restaurant?
a) You ask the waiter to bring the most expensive dish
b) You order instead of your associate
c) You offer your associate a recommendation
d) You should not do anything

2) When it comes to the expensive dishes, you:
a) Should order the most expensive dish to make a good impression
b) Should not order the most expensive dish
c) Should not order the most expensive dish unless your host gives you an indication to do that
d) Should not bother with the price and make an order based on your taste

3) When it comes to business meetings and meals, alcohol is generally:
a) Forbidden
b) Not recommended
c) Recommended in smaller doses
d) Recommended for making a casual atmosphere

4) Dinners are traditionally accompanied by:
a) Wine
b) Beer
c) Champagne
d) Cocktails

5) Which of the following statements IS NOT true?
a) The host usually pays the bill
b) If you are invited to discuss something that would profit you, it’s good form to at least offer
to pay the bill
c) If a client wants to pay the bill, you should be persistent and counter until the client gives up
d) If you’re the one who invited the guests, then it is assumed that you would be the one
picking up the tab

6) When you are the one who pays the bill, you should not:
a) Arrange to pick the check on your way out
b) Arrange to have the check sent to your office
c) Call the waiter to bring you the tab to your table
d) Leave your credit card with the restaurant, and request that the server add the tip to the
meal

7) When it comes to the tips, the standard for an excellent service is:
a) 20%
b) 15%
c) 12%
d) 10%

8) When it comes to the tips in a self-service or buffet style restaurant, a standard tip is:
a) 5 – 10%
b) 10 – 12%
c) 12 – 15%
d) 15 – 20%