Business Lunch Mondays! Tips from The Language Chef

You know these moments, your boss says, “Come on kiddo, we’re meeting Mr. Fancy Schmancy client at Chez Foo Foo!” And you think, OH NO not again. She’s going to make me choose the wine!  Well this time, you’ll be prepared to go in with confidence and come out looking like a pro!
1.       Remember you know more than you think!   These days with so much information about foods from other countries, you probably know way more than you think!  So take a deep breath when the waiter hands you the wine list!

2.      Ask your client or colleagues.  Put them on the spot.  “Say, Chip, what’s your favorite wine?”  Clients often are winies too and you might actually save yourself a lot of time and sweat by just asking the other guests.  Also business lunches can be stiff and uncomfortable and breaking the ice with a discussion of what food or wine a person likes can make things feel more human.  After all, all humans eat (and hopefully drink wine).

3.    Look for what you recognize.  Wine lists can be VERY daunting, HOWEVER I am sure you can identify a few names, like Chianti, Pinot Grigio, Venice, Prosecco, etc.

4.       Look for words that you might be able to easily say.  Bordeaux, Burgundy, Tuscany, etc.

5.       Depending on what your business is, price may or may not matter.  Remember that a more expensive wine does not necessarily mean it tastes better.  That said, match the words you know with the prices. You might even say something like “Wow that price for that Bordeaux is quite good, let’s go with that!”

6.      Don’t be afraid to ‘mess’ up.  Most wines on a wine list are drinkable so keep that in mind, and you’ll soon realize that you can’t really make a mistake.

7.       Look before you leap!  If mean ol’boss man tends to go to the same restaurant and tends to try to put you on the spot by asking you to order the wine or food, go to the restaurants site, download the menu, and study it.  In your spare time, learn the words, learn what the foods are so the next time you’re up at bat, you’ll impress the pants off Mr. Fancy Schmancy client.

8.   Go to The Language Chef site and learn to say all those wines and foods that you have always wanted to!   www.thelanguagechef.com.