Bartenders and Waiters
If you are planning a cocktail party of more than twelve people and are planning a party in your home and you don't have a maid, it is most likely wise to hire a bartender for the evening. It it's a very large party, the services of a waiter or waitress will make the evening much pleasanter for the hostess. She may prepare the hors d' oeuvres herself in advance, even days if there is a freezer, or she may hire a waitress or caterer who prepares and serves food.
The bartender can attend to guests, to the drinks in any one of various ways, or may combine several means of serving. He may stand behind a large table loaded with every sort of cocktail glass, ice, and bottles of each type of liquor and soft drink to be served. Guests request what type of drinks they prefer and the bartender makes the appropriate drink requested. A gentlemen usually asks the lady accompanying him what she would like, and she waits at a little distance from the bar while he gives the order to the bartender and brings her the cocktail. If there are a group of ladies, it is perfectly correct for one of them who wishes another drink to go to the bar herself and ask the bartender to mix her a cocktail or another type of drink. This would be more appropriate rather than interrupting a conversation that her husband or escort might be engaged in.
Another method of serving drinks for the bartender is to have ready made drinks on a tray and as guests come in to offer one. He may continue to do this, but it involves an enormous number of glasses because a fresh one must be passed each time. After the first serving, therefore, it is more practical for him to watch carefully for empty glasses and, when he sees one approach the guest and ask, "May I bring you another drink?" The guests replies with which drink they had to be refilled or simply says "No, thank you."
One important thing to take note of is to be sure you instruct the bartender in advance exactly how you like your cocktails mixed, and insist he use a measure. If you aren't familiar with the way he mixes drinks and let him measure "by eye", you may find that your liquor supply is about to run out long before you had planned. Or you may have some unexpectedly boisterous guests on your hands !
Posted by Eugene Vodovoz at 14 December 2011, 4:35 PM 
Categories: Etiquette
Tags: bartender waiters hostess host
Categories: Etiquette
Tags: bartender waiters hostess host
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