According to Camille Lavington, "You've Only Got Three Seconds", you can tell more about people by their table manners than any other trait. Eating and drinking are two of life's greatest pleasures, particularly during the holidays, when we are with our friends, family and colleagues. Negotiating the minefield of place settings, table manners and difficult foods, while trying to hold a conversation, however, can be stressful and challenging.

The behaviors we use in social situations are learned skills. We can unlearn bad habits and replace them with good ones. We can appear confident at cocktail parties, dinner parties and networking situations. We can learn fine dining skills and how to handle food and beverages gracefully while meeting new people.

THE ETIQUETTE SCHOOL OF NEW YORK focuses on providing adults with the knowledge and skills they need to generate positive impressions in any business or social situation.

The following programs are available for individuals, private orgranizations, and corporations.

 

                                   DINING ETIQUETTE AND SOCIALSKILLS             

 

Today, many social and business interactions center around dining or entertaining. Whether it is your new client, your peers or a date you want to impress with your charm and sophistication at the table, THE ETIQUETTE SCHOOL OF NEW YORK'S  Dining Etiquette and Social Skills for Adults tutorial will prepare you for these social occasions.

Knowing the rules of etiquette will set you free from doubt and anxiety and allow you to approach social events, such as receptions and dinner parties, or dining out in restaurants, with poise and confidence. These are rules that people do not know instinctively, no matter how smart they are; someone had to teach them.

This two-hour tutorial will provide you with the dining and social skills needed to create a favorable , as well as memorable impression:

   1.  Proper Introductions - Introducing yourself and others.

   2.  Handshakes  - How and when to shake hands.

   3.  Posture, Eye Contact  - What your body language reveals.

   4.  Seating at the Table - How to offer and take a seat.                      

   5.  Savvy Host and Gracious Guest  -Responsibilities of each.

   6.  Dinner Conversations - Appropriate and inappropriate topics.

   7.  Silverware, Glasses, Place  Settings and Napkins-The Basics.

    8.  How to Correctly Use Your Utensils. 

    9.  American and Continental Dining Styles -Open, closed positions.

   10.  Wine Etiquette- At home and in restaurants.

   11. Toasts and Tipping - The protocol for each.

   12.  RSVP'S and Thank-You Notes-The importance of each.

 

                     COCKTAIL PARTY ETIQUETTE

                                       

This hour-and-a-half seminar will prepare participants to face any business or social cocktail party, reception or networking event with confidence and poise. Learn:

      1. How to introduce yourself and others.

      2. How to shake hands with confidence.

      3. How to start a conversation, keep it going and gracefully exit.

      4. How to project a positive image.

      5. How to be a savvy host and gracious hostess.

      6. How to handle food and beverages gracefully.

      7. The protocol for exchanging business cards.

      8.  How to dress for the occasion.

      9. The importance of RSVPs and thank-you notes.

 

                                 "SIMPLY DINING" TUTORIAL

If your social skills are up to par, but your dining skills are not, then this dining tutorial is for you. The Etiquette School of New York is now conducting Dining Tutorials for individuals and self-organized groups. Founder Patricia Napier-Fitzpatrick will teach you everything you need to know to dine with confidence.

 

       1. Dining etiquette tips.

       2. Understanding place settings.

       3. The four uses of the napkin.

       4. Stemware and beverages.

       5. The bread plate and how to properly eat bread and rolls.

       6. Rules for eating soup.

       7. How to correctly hold and use utensils.

       8. Continental and zig zag (American) dining, resting and closed positions.

       9.  Using the knife as a fence, as well as a pusher.

      10. Dealing with unwanted food.

      11. Passing food at the table.

      12. How to eat dessert with a fork and spoon.

      13. Wine etiquette and protocol.

      14. The silent service code.

      15. Protocol for ordering, seating, paying, and tipping.  

 

Fee for Dining Tutorial: The fee for a private, fine dining tutorial in a restaurant in Manhattan is $300.00. This includes your dining tutorial, a five-course dinner, and one glass of wine. For two people, the total fee is $400.00.

 

New!  You can now schedule a private "Introduction to Table Manners and Dining Skills" tutorial at our office. For those who are uncomfortable being instructed in a public setting, this is the perfect solution.  You will be instructed in all of the above mentioned topics, but no food will be served. The fee for a private one-on-one tutorial is $150.00.

 

You may also be interested in our FIRST IMPRESSION SKILLS, CONVERSATION SKILLS, TECHNO-ETIQUETTE/ WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS and PERSONAL AND INTERPERSONAL SKILLS workshops outlined on our BUSINESS ETIQUETTE page.