Dining vs. Eating – Is there a difference?

I believe there is. All of us know how to eat, but do we know how to dine? I also know you are thinking of people right now that have terrible table manners, and the impression it leaves you is “priceless.”

On the catering side of our business, we serve food for a lot of different types of events and meetings. These include casual or formal business luncheons, weddings, fundraisers, Black tie galas and more. Regardless of the event, I can easily tell the difference between the events where the guests are there to eat and when they are there to dine.

So what is the difference?

"Dining" is part of an experience, and it is more than just food. It’s about creating a memorable atmosphere and energy. Of course, a host’s menu and venue selection will set a certain tone, but a guest who comes to dine is prepared to converse on a number of appropriate topics, understands table manners and can build a relationship around a meal. In other words, a dining guest uses proper etiquette, and they are prepared to accomplish more than simply eating a meal.

Eating, on the other hand, is the opposite of an experience. Just go into any restaurant on any given day and look around. You will see many people gnawing on a sandwich, texting or using some other form of technology, and above all, ignoring standard manners, even while trying to converse with each other. They arrive, they eat and they leave. (Unfortunately, we see this type of behavior, even at galas, business events, meetings, etc.)

I believe we are becoming a more casual society, especially when it comes to “dining.” How many times do you go out to eat and all you see are people with their “smart phones” on the table and not even talking to their guests?

If people think they can get away without manners simply because they aren’t on a corporate stage, they are wrong. I’m not saying you can’t enjoy yourself when you go out to dinner with friends, but I am saying that your actions are still a reflection of your etiquette and your brand. In fact, I was just at a nice upscale restaurant seated near a table of 6 people where one guest informed everyone within earshot that he was already drunk! And they hadn’t even ordered their food yet! It was a Monday.

We all have been taught to eat, but do we really know how to dine?

If you have a favorite story about poor table manners, please let me know ([email protected]).

Robert J. (Bob) Pacanovsky