An evening out

Politeness

• Be punctual, your host will be working very hard to serve the dinner hot.

• Present yourself cleanly and dress well. Your clothes should make you feel confortable , but elegant.

• Bring a gift for your host or hostess, if appropriate.

• Speak about interesting themes but not boring, and don’t speak for too long.

• Talk, but try to keep your voice peaceful and polite. Do not interrupt others; let them talk and show them that you are listening to them with respectful eye contact.

• Smile at other guests and treat them politely, peacefully, calm and classy.

• Shake hands (men) or give one kiss in each cheek (women)

• Don’t ask personal or delicate questions.• Don’t talk about politics, football or religion.• Do not brag about your money or job status.

Customs

• You can eat and drink quite well in Portugal at a very reasonable price. There are multitudes of local restaurants to choose from, even in the tiniest villages.

• Some important tips: As soon as you take your seat in the restaurant,

a server will immediatly set down some entradas. This is the Portuguese way of eating appetizers, brought to you without having to ask. In other cultures , if food is brought to the table without request, the assumption is that’s free. This is not the case. You will pay what you eat.

• Don’t be embarrassed to order the house wine.

It’s typically a good, inexpensive wine, and it’s also the local beverage of choice with the meal.

. In general, the Portuguese, when dining, prefer the knife and fork. This behavior includes items such as burgers , and even fries.

The outfit

• Try to dress according to the event you were signed up for.

• Your outfit must be adequated to your age, sex and profession.

• Select clothes that never go out of style and work with every season.

• Search for classic shapes and patterns.• Always choose clothing that fits your body

properly.

Woman• Clean jeans or classic trousers with a shirt or

blouse.• Classic dress and long coat.• Blazer and skirt.• Mid high heels.• Hand bag.• Earings.• Neckless.• Gloves.

Man

• Black or dark suit.• White or neutral shirt. • Classic shoes.• Tie .

Choosing the menu

• Starters: bread, cheese, olives, butter and olive oil.

• Vegetable soup.• Fish (codfish, octopus, sardines…)• Meat (pork, chicken, cow)• Dessert (pastry or cheese with quince

marmalade).• Red or white wine.• Oporto wine

Table manners

• Keep your elbows off the table• Keep your fingers out of your plate• Chew with your lips closed• Don’t scrape your teeth on your fork or spoon,

never talk with food in your mouth, always say please and thank you and use your napkin (wich belongs in your lap when you are not using it!)

• Eat only what you can handle. Never heat too much. However, don’t eat too little, and whatever you do, don’t abandon a dish. If you are served something you dislike, try to eat anyway, to be polite.

• Wait for some signal that the meal is beginning, such as the hostess lifting her fork .

• Break small pieces of bread from a roll to butter