The Mere Mortal's Guide to Fine Dining: From Salad Forks to Sommeliers, How to Eat and Drink in Style Without Fear of Faux Pas

As a business skill trainer, I found this book an exceptional resource since it provided reservation to exit information on enjoying an elegant dining experience. Colleen Rush researched dining history and added in helpful facts about why we eat our bread in pieces, why the meal comes in several independent courses down to understanding the traditions of food preparation and wines across Europe as well as trendy questions about the quality or best catch when it comes to meats.I used this book to prepare for a Business Etiquette presentation yet Rush's writing was fun and exciting to follow and honestly, I will be enjoying this before any fine dinner to be on my best behavior and to keep refreshing what would make my dining experience more enriched. This book can help one establish a better relationships with their clients because this book teaches you how to create allies with the dining staff and better understand the menus and what it means to be a 'foody' without entering with a bib and smug complaints. Since my research and preparation visited the perspective written from the restaurant staff as well, I found this book very fair to both the guest and the restaurant. Again, better etiquette does not give one the right to be more judgmental but to show more class and appreciation when the service is done right and the food and wine is good.This book is one of my favorites and her book is a great gateway to the books she referenced to further study the history of fine dining. She truly made the topic accessible and useful for any audience. I highly recommend this book.

Surprisingly good and easy to read at the same time. A fine diner's guide on fine dining, cuisine, table manner so that you can avoid the major faux pas.

Good information. Suited best for those somewhat familiar with the basics

I really enjoyed reading this book. It was easy to follow, understand, and practical for anyone to brush up on good etiquette. I recommend this book.

Etiquette courses, Emily Post, and the overwhelming options online led me to this straightforward, fun, and informative book. From forks and knives, to wine types, to basic faux pas in today's digital world, this book covers the high level of it all, AND as an added bonus, explains the history / why we have these rules in the first place (or why they're dumb).Helpful, funny, and a great addition to the bookshelf.

I eat out frequently, on a lot of business dinners. I read about this book in a magazine and ordered it. A fun, fast read with easy-to-digest information about tipping, wine, becoming a "regular" at a restaurant (how to score perks), and... table manners.This is where my doofus-ness comes in. My napkin is supposed to be folded to the left of my plate (not on my chair) if I get up to pee? Utensils can never touch the table (not even the handles) once you pick them up?? I was wincing over and over as I learned all the little habits I had wrong.On the upside, I've got it pretty much straight now. In fact, fun fact: I went to dinner after reading just the intro/first chapter, and scored a FREE glass of fancy wine... Already recouped the cost of the book!

No more picking up the wrong fork if you get this book! Although I picked this book up for more a reference it is a wealth of information and a must read if you want to succeed out in the world.--Get it! and read it! Then take the boss out to lunch!

Very good information but some of it regarding the food is pretty basic if you have any knowledge of cooking. Overall not bad and I would recommend it. Good section on tipping and building a relationship with your favorite restaurant.

This book is great, for anyone who has ever felt uncomfortable in a restuarant, not sure which side the waiter is going to approach from, or what you should do with each piece of cutlery.

Generally it does answer many of the more obvious questions that arise when first entering the world of fine dining. It is though very American orientated and it does miss many inportant aspects. For example, Ms Rush expounds on the salad fork, but completely omits any mention of the specialised fish knife.

Could have used more illustrations, rather than trying to describe the position of the silverware which made it even more confusing.