The ever industrious president of my company also owns a couple of vineyards, so whenever we wine and dine out-of-town clients it takes place at a restaurant where his wine is served, such as Higgins Restaurant in downtown Portland. The clients were impressed with the meal as well as asking for bottles of the wine to take home with them, so I would definitely count the evening as a success.
I enjoyed peppered halibut cheeks with a chile polenta and succotash with bacon. This was my first taste of halibut cheeks, which are more dense and a bit sweeter than the rest of the fish. Definitely something I would order again. My dining companions also seemed pleased with their meals, which ranged from seared Oregon Albacore tuna to a honey & chili-glazed loin of pork.
Dessert was just as tasty, consisting of a blackberry tart paired with basil ice cream and a fruit glaze. I ordered it because I was curious about the basil ice cream, and it complemented the locally grown blackberries marvelously.
When I dine with clients, I’m always a bit self-conscious about my knowledge of etiquette. I took a crash course class in dining etiquette during college, and I remember the usual things like “napkin goes in the lap” and “utensils in the top right corner of the plate when you are done eating” but I think I’ve forgotten a lot of the finer points. It would be wonderful to take a refresher course, and judging from where a few of my companions placed their cutlery, I’m probably not the only person in Portland who would benefit from it.
I found a class offered by Wine Press Northwest in Seattle on Sept. 13, but a class here in Portland would be more preferable. Does anyone know of a local business that caters to the “missed finishing school, but still interested in becoming couth” crowd? Or a local class being offered? I’m sure some of the universities offer classes, but I would imagine they limit enrollment to current students. Maybe I need to check into that.
I found myself needing this badly when I was fresh out of college and suddenly thrown into fancy-dancy investment banking world. My biggest faux pas – I was at my first-ever business lunch in Miami, hosted by the female lawyer at her club. The dozen or so other bankers and clients there were men. Of course I assumed that she would eat and order first. But no. Since she was the host she was a de-facto man and I, the only woman, held everyone up because I wouldn’t pick up my fork until she did. It was a silent etiquette stand-off.
I was also too chicken to order a first course and every single person around the table did after I ordered. So I sat there, famished and munching on strange bread sticks, kicking myself while everyone else enjoyed their lobster bisque-and-such.
You should check out Letitia Baldrige’s etiquette books. They are THICK with information, but very well written and actually fun to read. Everything you need to know is in one of her books…..good to keep for reference. I bet you could probably find them used at Powell’s for cheap.
I was too chicken to order a first course, too! Prolly good I didn’t, though, since as it was they practically had to roll me out of there.