Help With Business Etiquette

[RWJasper]

If I have an interview/meeting with client over a meal, what is the professional way to decline - how would approach a polite refusal of food without seeming rude, providing too much information or making the person who provided the meal feel bad?

[kabowman]

Is the meal in a resturaunt or at a home?

[RWJasper]

Generally speaking in a restaurant - I'm looking for advice to give someone who is new to the workplace.

[kabowman]

Be the first to recommend the resturaunt - one that you know you can eat at without any problems, explain that you have some "food allergies" when you order which will explain the way you order and help the wait staff, and while not exactly helping celiac disease out or being the truth, it is simple for everyone to understand and is usually not questioned as much.

I am sure there are others out there with their own ideas too...good luck.

[Jnkmnky]

Do you have an OutBack Steakhouse nearby? They have a gluten free menu! PF Changs is supposed to have one as well, but I do hear a lot about people being glutened there. Not the case with OutBack. You could also call ahead to the restaurant and pre-order a gluten free meal.

[tarnalberry]

A couple options:

1. suggest a restaurant where you know there are items you can have

2. find out the name of the restaurant a day ahead of time and call to talk to the manager about accomodating you

3. pick something on the menu that should be safe and discuss with the manager (plain baked potato/steamed vegetables

4. politely decline, simply saying that you had food intolerances and are certain that you can get safe food

[ianm]

I have to do this a lot. I am just upfront about it and ask the waitstaff about the food. I explain that I am allergic to wheat. Always say allergy and not intolerance because people seem to get it more than they do with intolerance. I have never had a client or business associate react in a negative way. Usually they are intrigued and want to know more about it. Several times someone has called me later wanting to know even more.