陈豪在北京的ABC美国公司工作,他跟美国同事Amy一起喝下午茶。

(Office ambience)

A:Chen Hao, you’ve been attending a lot of business dinners lately. Didn’t your team go out again last night with the clients?

C:没错。我老板Mr. Brown决定请客人到附近刚开张的那家法国餐馆去吃饭。

A:How did it go?

C:饭菜的味道确实不错,但是有个客人很失态。

A:What do you mean?

C:首先,她点的菜都是菜单上价钱最贵的。

A:What did the others do?

C:其他人点的都是中等价位的,我也一样。

A:This client sounds as if she could use some business etiquette training. Unless Mr. Brown suggested that you all order certain pricey dishes, she should have chosen something moderately priced.

C:我觉得也是。除非主人坚持,否则客人应该点一些普通的菜才对。

A:It’s rude to take advantage of your host like that. This client is not very savvy about business dining.

C: Savvy是什么意思啊?

A:Savvy means having knowledge and experience.

C:这个客户确实不懂礼貌,而且还不只这些呢!

A:Let’s head back to the office now. You can tell me on the way.

******

陈豪和Amy两人一起往回走。

A:So there is more to this story?

C:那个客人不仅点的都是最贵的,而且一道菜都不拉。

A:Like what?

C:从汤开始,然后是头台、沙拉,主菜,最后还有特制的甜点,一样不少。

A:What did everyone else do?

C:Mr. Brown虽然吃得很少,但也只好跟着她一道菜一道菜地点。

A:He was doing the correct thing as host by ordering the same as the client.

C:作为主人,一定要这么做吗?

A:When someone orders appetizers or other dishes in addition to the entrée, it is polite for others to order the same courses.

C:那又是为什么呢?

A:That keeps the pace of the dinner even and avoids the awkwardness of one person eating a course by herself.

C:如果没有别人点汤的话,那个客户自己吃的时候一定会觉得很尴尬。

A:At an informal dinner, some people have soup while others may select a different appetizer to have at the same time. Everyone should have an equal number of courses.

C:那作为请客的主人,在饭桌上能做些什么呢?

A:Simple. The host can say, “Why don’t we all have an appetizer?” Or he could ask, “Would anyone like something to start with?”

C:这样一来,你就能知道自己是不是唯一想点头台的人了。

A:Right. If no one else has a starter course, then you don’t either.

C:你真应该给昨天那个客人好好上一课。