The Nairobi Restaurant Week
is taking place from the 28th of January to the 7th of February 2016.
This is a great time to sample meals from a variety of restaurants and
at the same time treat yourself after the tough month that has been
January.
Here are a few things that I found out
that you may also want to take into consideration when you plan to eat
out at a restaurant.
-
Be a great host
The general rule as a host is that you
should make sure that your guests are well taken care of. So if you have
a restaurant in mind make sure you have made reservations so that you
do not keep your guest(s) waiting at the door. If it is a walk in
restaurant then make sure you get there ahead of time to reserve a nice
spot. There is nothing as annoying as sharing a table with other guests.
Also it is a general rule that if you are the one who invited the
person you should foot the bill.
2. Treat the waiters well
Just
because you are paying for your meal does not give you an excuse to
treat your waiter badly. Greet them, call them by name, ask for their
recommendations on what to have. If it is a busy day just raising your
hand and making eye contact should get their attention. If you are nice
to them they will treat you well.
3. Let your guest order first
If your guest is not sure of what
to order step in and recommend meals they could try. Give suggestions in
various price ranges so that your guest does not fear ordering and if
you have done your homework you can somehow gauge how much you will
spend.
4. Know your table settings
You will most likely find a napkin on
the table. The general rule is to unfold it and put it on your lap. Some
restaurants will have the waiter do that for you. The part that has
most people worried most of the time is the cutlery. Start with
utensils on the outside and work your way in as the meal goes on. You
can also use the BMW formula to remember where things go- Your
bread-and-butter plate is on the left, the meal is in the middle, and
your water glass is on the right. Simple, right?
5. The drinks
Let’s not kid ourselves. Most of us are
not wine connoisseurs so to save yourself time and potential
embarrassment and just ask the waiters what can go with the meal. The
simple rule though is that red wine goes with red meat and white wine
goes with white meat. If you request a bottle and you ask to taste it
and don’t like it,you have to keep it. No one else will drink flat wine
so keep it simple.
6. Keep your table clear
Do not place your bag, keys, books and
phone on the table. Most establishments nowadays have a hook under the
table to hang your bag. A phone can be very distracting so ensure to put
it away after you have instagramed your food. This will not only allow
you to give your guest the attention they deserve but will also allow
space for the waiter to work without hindrance.
7. May I taste yours?
If you are with someone you know and are
comfortable with then they may not mind you eating from their plate.
However the best way to do this is to pass a portion onto a side plate.
By doing this you will avoid spilling or dropping something while
reaching over for someone’s plate.
8. Keep the food course balanced with your guest
This means if your guest orders an appetizer or dessert, you should follow suit. You don’t want to make your guest feel uncomfortable by eating a course alone.9. Mind your manners
Remember how your mother always said not to talk while eating? Do as she said, kindly keep your mouth closed as you eat and pace yourself so that you do not end up choking. The napkin is there to help you dab at your mouth so that you wipe away sauce or food crumbs. If you must use your hands while eating ensure that when you are done use the napkin to at least wipe off the grease.10. Leave a lasting impression
At the end of the meal, let your table look presentable without napkins all over the place or forks and knives on the table. When you are done fold the napkin and place it next to the plate and place your cutlery on the plate. As the host ask for the bill to be brought to you and if you really enjoyed your meal and service let your server know. If you can, leave a tip. It leaves a good impression on your guest and the next time you come by the staff will remember you.>> VISIT THIS WEBSITE FREQUENTLY TO GET MORE NEWS UPDATES.
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