Lady at the Buffet

A Lady At A Buffet Dinner
or party where hors d'oeuvres are served

At any occasion where hors d’oeuvres and canapés have been set out for the guests, a lady does not sort through the snacks in search of the most luscious or largest morsel. Neither does she pick out all of the cashews from the mixed nuts.

Lady does not attend a party to which she has not been specifically invited-unless she is assured that the host has insisted that all her friends “bring anybody” they know.

At a buffet dinner, once a lady has filled her plate to an appropriate level, she need not wait for all the other guests to wend their way through the line before she begins eating. In such situations, however, she waits until at least a couple of other guests have filled their plates and joined her. She does not dine alone.

Even if she is not well-acquainted with anyone else in the room, once she has filled her plate, a lady seats herself near another guest, or a group f guests, and attempts to begin a conversation, either by introducing herself or by saying, “My, isn’t this a beautiful pork roast?”

A lady does not station herself by the food table at a buffet, feeding herself off of the serving platters.

A lady never places her glass or coffee cup directly on a piece of furniture, even if that piece of furniture is a glass-top coffee table. She knows that a sweaty glass will leave damp rings on glass or stone, while the heat from hot coffee will leave circles of steam on any surface.

If a lady is offered a coaster or a cocktail napkin, she uses it.
If a lady is not offered a coaster or a cocktail napkin, she asks for one.

At any party, a lady must greet her host or hostess immediately upon arrival.

During the appetizer hour, a lady’s goal is to make pleasant conversation with her fellow guests. (She does not attempt to monopolize her host or hostess.)

At a dinner buffet a lady does not load her plate to overflowing.

After getting her food, a lady finds a place to sit, spreads her napkin on her lap, and balances her plate on top.

A lady may return to the buffet for a second helping if she desires. She may use the same plate for her food. However, in a public restaurant she will have to get a new plate because of health department guidelines.

A lady always bids farewell to her host or hostess thanking them for their hospitality and for including her.

From Lady At The Table by Sheryl Shade