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50 First Dates

FARMERS MARKET

SEE WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU GET FRESH!

etting the Stage:
Many people like a low hassle "pre-date" before they commit to the four-course, five-hour meal date with someone they don't know. The standard pre-date "coffee" is both a little stale and can almost be awkward as it says to your date that they are "on probation", being judged to see if they are worthy of more time. Want a resher low-key date? This is it.

A trip to the farmer's market is a perfect easy-going first date to have on a weekend morning or afternoon. A stress free time to get to know each other, go for a walk, do some shopping, support local farmers and vendors, and maybe get a bite to eat. If you don't know where the farmer's market is located in your area, check the food section of your local paper or try the www.farmersmarket.net or www.open-airmarket.net.

Haven't been to a farmer's market in a while? In addition to the gorgeous produce and romantic flowers, many have turned into bona fide attractions with everything from food vendors, latte providers, live music, crafts displayers, to petting zoos. Get the skinny on your market. If there are no food vendors at the actual market, chances are there are coffee shops nearby where you can grab a light bite. You will fill your bags with fresh fruit and flowers, but hopefully this date will leave you both hungry for more.

Dress to Impress:
Daytime chic. Your khaki shorts with your white linen buttondown, or your khaki pants with white T-shirt.

A sundress, or low riding denim or cotton skirt with a colorful net top, and strappy sandals that you can walk in.

Devil's in the Details:
Almost all farmer's markets have food vendors, but at the very least you can buy fresh fruit, bread and/or cheese, and munch as you go.

Have a couple lattes or mochas after the date with pastries or bread and jam you bought at the market. Very French.

The sounds of the market, maybe even live music.

Everything at the market, the delight in your date's eyes at finding something special.

A big mesh shopping bag, small bills, wet naps.

Where do you shop? Do you keep food at home, or do you go out? Have you ever spent much time at a farm? Do you do any gardening?

A bouquet of fresh flowers, something from the craft stand.

Feed each other strawberries!

Practice Makes Perfect
Whether professionally or romantically, proper etiquette matters. It can make the difference between lunch with your boss where you are offered a promotion or one where you are simply offered a chicken sandwich. It can make the difference between having a first-date dinner and having a first-date dinner that ends with "dessert". It can also make the difference between feeling awkward and unsure of yourself in social situations and you being an individual with style, class and charisma that owns the room.

EXTRA TIPS & ADVICE TO REMEMBER

Manners do matter: the rules to basic table etiquette

Proper etiquette - those manners expected and deemed required by society - is not only very much alive, but also of the utmost importance for becoming a success in the dating, social, and business arenas. In fact, there are few more visibly powerful telltale indicators of one's class, education, and training as the knowledge and use of proper etiquette or lack thereof.

From an informal blind hook-up brunch, a romantic anniversary meal, a casual business lunch to the allimportant client dinner, eating presents a veritable plethora of opportunities to commit faux pas that at best can cause embarrassment and at worst rejection.

While it's impossible to turn back time to undo the heek-reddening incident of nibbling on your boss' bread, or of hearing (via a friend of a friend) that the reason "she" didn't want to see you again was because you "ate like you were raised by a pack of wild animals", there is only one way to insure these never happen again - learn the rules of table etiquette and follow them to a T!

Rule #2: From the outside in. Silver is always placed in order of use, beginning with the implement farthest from the plate. If salad is served as a first course, grab the fork that is farthest from your plate - that is the salad fork.

Rule #3: Lay side-by-side. When you are finished with each course your knife (with blade turned inward) and fork should be placed beside each other on the plate diagonally.

Rule #4: Keep it in your lap. You napkin that is! As soon as you are seated, unfold your napkin and place it on your lap. When the meal is finished, or if you leave the table during the meal, put the napkin on the left side of your place-setting.

Rule #5: Stay erect. I'm referring to your posture! Sit up straight and if you can't resist the temptation to fidget, you may rest your hands and wrists on the table, but not your entire forearm and definitely not your elbows.

Rule #6: She gets a rise out of you. A gentleman always rises when a lady joins or leaves the table.

Rule #7: Steady as she goes. A gentleman always follows a lady to a table, pulls out her chair and steadies it as she sits.

Rule #8: Keep couples together. Salt and pepper are considered married and always get passed together, even if someone asks only for the salt.

Rule #9: Breaking bread. Yes, it really is called that for a reason! Bread and rolls are broken off into bite-size pieces and butter is spread on each bite as you eat it. It is improper to use your knife to cut your bread as well as to butter the entire piece of bread at once!

Rule #10: Begin together. At tables of eight or less people, begin eating only after everyone is served or after permission is granted from those not yet served. Now that you've got a good start on what to do, let's talk a bit about what not to do.

Never (and I mean n-e-v-e-r):