#hosting-etiquette

#hosting-etiquette

Restaurant patrons should not be asking such questions, but Miss Manners understands that they do and that appearing to be offended or unfriendly can have adverse consequences for both the business and your employment. The polite response is to say, in a bright, friendly way, No, I'm from here before moving on to restaurant business. This will not lessen your own annoyance at being asked, but if it ever-so-slightly embarrasses the patron, perhaps you will have saved the next employee from such unwanted attention.

Dear Eric: My mother-in-law, Dana, 79, was married for 51 years before her husband passed six years ago. She visits us frequently. When she does, she stays at our house or with one of my husband's sisters. Within the last six months, Dana began dating a senior gentleman, Peter. Apparently, they knew each other in high school and recently reconnected. As of this writing, only the two sisters have met Peter.