Hospitality isn't Only for Southerners
by Margarita Cárdenas
Chef School Review Columnist
Hospitality starts with genuine friendliness toward others and a wish to share good times. If you have that, the rest can be learned. Here are some important areas to cover in your personal hospitality training.
Hello!
Have you walked into a party and had to search out the host or hostess to say hello? You have to wonder if they were expecting you at all. The first rule of hospitality is: Forget how frazzled you are; greet each guest at the door with a warm, relaxed welcome that says, "I'm glad you're here."
Something to Smile About
A few special touches can get your party off to a lively start. Try your hand at some exotic canapés instead of the usual chips. On a cold night, nothing beats a crackling fire in the fireplace. In warm weather, pass around refreshing piña coladas in hollowed-out pineapples.
What about Late-comers?
Don't hold up dinner waiting for stragglers. This isn't fair to your other guests, who had the courtesy to get there on time. Wait fifteen minutes or so, then go ahead and serve the meal. When your late arrival walks in, just show her to the table as naturally as if she'd been there early.
...And Goodbye
Don't have so much fun that you fail to see each of your guests to the door when they're ready to leave. Did the person say or do something funny or memorable? Bring it up in parting. It makes a great send-off.
And finally...
What if the roast is overdone or somebody spilled the wine? If the atmosphere is sociable and stress-free, even glitches like these can become part of the fun. So an important thing to remember in your home hospitality career is quite simple: Create an atmosphere where you and your guests can truly enjoy each other's company.
About the Author
Margarita Cárdenas heads MC Editorial, a firm providing language expertise in the areas of writing, translating, and editing. As a conference interpreter, she has worked with organizations such as the World Bank and the United Nations. Margarita holds a bachelor's degree in humanities from Harvard University. Her favorite pastimes are gardening, cooking, and listening to opera.
Posted on March 30, 2005 at 12:48 PM
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