If you get the chance to be lucky and unlucky at the same time, you'll get to attend a business lunch or dinner. Sometimes laced with an awards ceremony, the business lunch/dinner awkwardly requires you to multitask the formal with the necessary - like when the dentist asks you how your summer's going while he's choking you from the inside out.
It is important to maintain an inconspicuous level of manners while eating and drinking with your CEO. Let's run through a few pointers:
1. I said "inconspicuous" level of manners because, sadly, not all execs have a basic knowledge of etiquette. You'd be better off not looking holier-than-thou by requesting a proper salad fork. If your superiors are using their hands to push around their first course, you can probably eat with whatever fork you find convenient. Usually starting from the outside and working in is a safe bet.
2. Eat at the pace of everyone else. If the hungry bunch scarfs faster than you, eat at a reasonable place, but let your plate be cleared when the rest are. Let's be honest, if you were really hungry, you'd eat as fast as they did. Likewise, if they are taking their time, take yours.
3. In the case of my first point, even if they are pushing food around with their hands, don't do it yourself. You can appear not to be pompous while still appearing human. Fries = use hands. Salad = use fork.
4. Wait until everyone has their food before you start eating. If you are eating in a large group, wait until everyone at your table has been served.
5. Napkin in your lap, please.
6. Be wary of your table makes when leaning in to hear a speaker or passing the bread. Try to keep out of the majority of your table's line of vision.
7. Which brings me to the bread. Never spread the butter on your bread with the butter knife. Use the butter knife that has been given to the whole table to put an amount of butter on your bread plate. Then use your own knife to put the butter on the bread. Err'body shares that butter knife, people! Let's handle it as little as possible.
8. Try to deal with the food you are given. If you are a picky eater, maybe eat a little before hand or carve out time for a real lunch afterwards. Try to not be the one to send back the cod because it was "too fishy".
9. Chew. With. Your. Mouth. Closed. If you cannot, then you need to take smaller bites. If you claim you cannot breathe, you need to have an operation to clear your nasal passageway. We're all eating the same chicken piccata here, no need to show off.
10. If you are NOT all eating the same thing (or eating from the same pre-approved list) you might be eating off of the restaurant's regular menu. Try not to be the bozo who orders the steak when everyone else is having the chicken. We are living in lean times and your company might appreciate you trimming the fat from your selection rather than having to trim the fat in payroll.
