Did you ever attended a reception? Lunch or dinner, standing? The choice of this type of event depends on many factors. The main one is the number of guests, once the number has reached the pick of 12 guests the hosts will tend to organize an event whose development requires not to be seated but prepare a long table elegantly set and all the guests standing alongside the buffet and dispose several tables made available.
For the organization, the hosts will set a long rectangular table on wich food and drinks will be laid elegantly and with care, in the middle a center table with flowers. The drinks will be placed on one side and the dishes with savory canapes, cold food dishes on the other side and finally the main dishes like pasta, risotto, meat or fish with vegetables. Afterwards the waiters will clean and make space for the fruits and desserts.
The waiters will stand behind the table and will help professionally the guest to be served but, alas!, often the participants witness the metamorphosis that too often affects the bad manners the crowd assembled around the table without waiting to be served, quick hands pounce directly on the trays full of food. All the rules of etiquette and décor jumps.
I ask myself who among you has not linked such images reminds historical sad period of rampant hunger? Ladies and Gentleman, we are in 2020 and etiquette and ceremonial have been codified for centuries, lets still respect them!
To help those who have doubts about how to behave in these situations, I am here every 3 weeks to write you few tips and at your disposal on my website, you will find a programme of MasterClasses for each type of events.
Let’s see together now what are the right attitudes and behaviors to implement during such an event:
First avoid crowding and jumping to the food, instead stand on line elegantly and with tranquility chat to some of guests you know in order to be served by waiters. Start asking small portions before the plate is full and complicate to manage. Find first the side table made available by host, hold plates and drinks, place them gently with glass, and use the knife carefully.
