| tart --> | | | | fish and fowl. In a fine restaurant, you can rarely |
| 1. Be on time. Despite what you may have heard | | | | go wrong by asking for the vino de la casa or the |
| about Southern European customs, Spaniards are | | | | headwaiter's suggestion. |
| punctual (at least as punctual as traffic snarls | | | | 6. Hands should be kept above the table at all |
| permit). If you arrive first, either wait in the bar | | | | times, if necessary resting the forearms on the |
| or ask for the table that has been reserved. | | | | table edge. Spanish mothers reprimand their |
| 2. Lunch rarely starts before 2:30 p.m. Spain runs | | | | children if both hands are not in view: "What are |
| on a different schedule than the rest of Europe. | | | | you hiding in that other hand?" This suspicion |
| Most Spaniards begin the day with a light | | | | dates back to the days of swords, daggers and |
| continental breakfast on the way to work, take a | | | | courtly plots. |
| break at 11 a.m. for coffee, have lunch at 2:30 | | | | 7. When business does come up (and it is best to |
| p.m. and then dine at 9:30 p.m. or later. A business | | | | wait for the Spaniard to raise it), talk principles. Do |
| lunch will take at least an hour and a half, and two | | | | not pull spreadsheets or reports from your |
| and a half hours is not unusual. | | | | briefcase, start drawing calculations on the napkin, |
| 3. A luncheon is a social occasion first, a business | | | | or press on money-related subjects. |
| event second. Personal relationships are important. | | | | 8. If you are the host, signal discretely for the bill |
| The Spanish executive will want to get to know | | | | (la cuenta) after the coffee has been served and |
| and trust the person with whom he may do | | | | liquors offered. The waiter will never bring the bill |
| business. Lunch is his opportunity for getting | | | | to you unasked, but he will be prompt once you |
| better acquainted with you. Appropriate | | | | have done so. |
| conversations include sports, travel, family, | | | | 9. Your business lunch may appear to end with |
| vacations, politics and old friends. | | | | nothing more than warm thanks and a promise to |
| 4. Your guests will be impressed if you pick an | | | | follow up, but expect results. Most Spaniards will |
| appropriate restaurant. Spaniards like to be seen | | | | be in touch the following day with a confirming |
| by and see people they know. | | | | letter, a request for those spreadsheets or |
| 5. Most meals are accompanied by wine. Spaniards | | | | documents you didn't pull out at the table, or they |
| like their excellent domestic reds (vino tinto) so | | | | will have a member of their staff contact you or |
| much that they will drink them with not only | | | | your staff. |
| meat, but also the traditional white wine dishes of | | | | |