Business in the 21st century

Lesson 14

Entertaining Business Associates

1. DIALOGUE Ω disk 2-19

Listen to the e-mail messages and note the numbered expressions.

(ordering at a business luncheon)

Maitre d'¹⁴¹: Good afternoon, gentlemen. Smoking or non-smoking?¹⁴⁵

Employee: Mr. Smith, which do you prefer?¹⁴⁶

Client: Non-smoking...if that is all right with you...?

Employee: Absolutely. ...Non-smoking...and is it possible to get a corner table, near a window?¹⁴⁷

Maitre d': Yes, I can seat you straight away.¹⁴⁸ Please follow me. ...Your waiter will be right with you. Enjoy your meal.

Waiter: Welcome to Little Sicily. May I get you gentlemen anything to drink today?¹⁴⁹

Employee: Mr. Smith, what would you like to have to drink?¹⁵⁰

Client: Oh, I think I'll have a glass of red wine.

Waiter: And you, sir?

Employee: I'll have the same. Also, could we have a cheese plate to start with?¹⁵¹ We'll order our meals a little later.

Waiter: Certainly.¹⁵² I'll be back with your drinks in a moment.

(waiter returns with the drinks and cheese)

Employee: Before we order, I'd like to discuss the project we're proposing to do in association with your company

Client: By all means.¹⁵³ Let's get the business portion out of the way so we can enjoy our meal.

Employee: Precisely.¹⁵⁴

¹⁴⁴ Maitre d' = head waiter or restaurant manager. It is short for the french term: mattre d' hotel.

¹⁴⁵ Depending upon which city or state you are in. laws regarding smoking in public places differ greatly; some restaurants are completely "non-smoking."

¹⁴⁶ The employee allows the client to choose because he wants to put the comfort and needs of the client before his own.

¹⁴⁷ The employee wants to insure that the luncheon meeting will be in an area that is quiet and not too busy (a table near the kitchen door would be too distracting).

¹⁴⁸ Straight away = immediately

¹⁴⁹ In the United States, it is customary in good restaurants to order drinks first (with an appetizer) before ordering the main meal. The waiter/waitress is very attentive and eager to add additional items to the total cost by suggesting refilling drinks, getting another appetizer, etc. The waiter/waitress is largely paid by the "tip"; so the higher the bill, the bigger the tip.

¹⁵⁰ Since the employee is treating the client, he asks the guest to order first. This is to make sure the client feels no pressure to order what the employee ordered. To be polite, the employee ordered the same thing the client did.

¹⁵¹ The employee ordered a cheese plate in order to have something to nibble on while they discuss the business at hand. It would be rude to just do business without at least having something available to eat in case the client gets hungry.

¹⁵² Certainly. = Surely, [e.g. a: can i ask you a favor? b: certainly. what do you need?]

¹⁵³ All means. = I agree, [e.g. a: may i call you later tonight? b: by all means.]

¹⁵⁴ Precisely. = Definitely.

2. COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS

Answer the following questions with short answers from the dialogue.

1. Where are they seated in the restaurant - the smoking or non-smoking section?

2. What is the name of the restaurant?

3. What did the employee and client order to drink?

4. What appetizer did the employee order in addition to the drinks?

5. Before ordering their meals, what do they want to finish first?

3. MATCHING

Match the best combination of sentences from Column A and B.

COLUMN A	COLUMN B
• Is my party here yet? • Where is the table located? • A table for four, please.	I can seat you straight away.
It's best if we go together...	• Precisely. • No, thank you. • I didn't go.
• Did you go there yet? • Have you been joined? • Can I join you?	By all means.
Will you call him tomorrow?	• Certainly. I'll do that. • No, I didn't call him. • Why will he call tomorrow?

4. MINI-DIALOGUES Ω disk 2-17

Listen and fill in the blanks and then practice saying the message aloud with a partner.

A: ( ) I take your ( ) order? B: Yes, I'd ( ) a cup of coffee. A: ( ) you, ma'am? C: I'll have the ( ). We'll need some ( ) to order. In the meantime, please ( ) a fruit plate with the ( ). A: ( ). Anything else? C: No, that's all for now. ( ) ( ).

A: A ( ) for thre, ( )… non-smoking. B: I can ( ) you straight away. Please ( ) me. A: Is it ( ) to get a table on the far wall, ( ) the fire place? B: ( ). I can seat you there. (waiter seats them and takes the drink order) B: Can I get you ( ) to drink today? A: Ms. Cates, what would you like to ( )? C: I’ll ( ) a ginger ale.

A: ( ) we order, I thought ( ) we should go through a few ( ) on our agenda. What do you ( )? B: By all ( ). Let's get that out of the way so we can enjoy our ( ). A: ( ). ...Shall we order an ( ) and drinks while we talk? B: Yes, that's fine. I'll have iced tea... . A: I think I'll have the ( ).

5. PAIRWORK-PRACTICE

Rearrange the sentences to make a conversation, then practice the conversation with a partner.

Conversation A

– Smoking or non-smoking? – Non-smoking, please. – Welcome to Appleton's. How many? – All right, I can seat you straight away. – A table for two, please.

Conversation B

–We'll have two colas...also, can you bring an appetizer? – Yes, I'd like a cola, please. – What sort of appetizer would you like? – Would you like something to drink before we get started? – Let's see...do you have a vegetable plate with a dip? – Welcome to Sandy's. Can I get you something to drink? – Yes, we do...so that's two colas and a vegetable plate. I'll be right back with your drinks and appetizer.

6. READING. AMERICAN BUSINESS CULTURE

The Business Luncheon Ω disk 2-21

Entertaining a client or an associate oyer lunch is an integral part of doing business in america. The casual and relaxed atmosphere that a restaurant offers is often preferred over a stuffy meeting room that is less warm and inviting. The ambience of a cozy restaurant helps to put everyone at ease and in a good mood.

When entertaining during a business luncheon, it is advisable to follow a set of basic guidelines that will help to ensure your luncheon is a complete success. First, choose a restaurant that has a wide variety of food choices. Some people have food allergies, are vegetarians, or due to religious considerations, don't eat certain kinds of food. Select a restaurant that will satisfy everyone's tastes and needs.

Always eat at the restaurant before taking a client there so you can experience it personally and know what kind of service it has, the quality of the food, and the overall atmosphere: is it conducive to meeting quietly? Is the table large enough to accommodate your papers and notepads? Is it private enough?

An added bonus to going there ahead of time is that the mattre d' may recognize you when you arrive with your clients. This will impress your guests. Always ask to be seated at a table far from the exit, the kitchen or salad bar. Too much peripheral traffic is distracting.

Iit is a good idea to get the bulk of the business out of the way before you begin eating. Order drinks initially, go over the business at hand, then order the main meal. As the food begins to arrive, you should be wrapping up the most pressing parts of the business-related activities. Of course, as you dine, the conversation undoubtedly will be an extension of the business you discussed before. Puring the dessert course, you should recap the highlights of the business you discussed as a summary and reminder to the others in attendance.

When paying, use a credit card. This shows that you are a professional and this will impress your clients. It is less impressive to be fumbling around with bills and coins to pay the bill. Also, be sure to tip well and praise the waiter and chef for a delicious meal and great service. This added touch will make you stand out when you return to host another business luncheon.

Answer the following questions using information found in the essay.

1. Why is it good to visit a restaurant first before taking a client there?

2. What should be discussed during the dessert course?

3. What type of payment should be used - cash or credit card?