Saratoga News

Photograph by Louise Webb

Sue Fox (left) and Lyndy Janes offer etiquette classes for grown-ups.

Louise Webb

Learning good manners

Lyndy Janes and Sue Fox are two beautiful professional models who opened The Workshoppe at 14419 Big Basin Way a year ago. They met while working for eternelle magazine and worked together as volunteers for various local charities before opening their shop. Janes has two boys attending Saratoga schools, and Fox has two sons who grew up in Los Gatos. She was raised in Saratoga. They have been teaching teens and preteens self-esteem, makeup, wardrobe principles, body image, grooming and social and dining etiquette.

The Workshoppe carries its own line of bath products, blended fragrances and aroma therapy. There are also wonderful gifts for children and adults, including gift baskets.

Since good etiquette has become so popular in the '90s, their school of etiquette has recently expanded to adult clients. Janes says clients want to feel more confident at business or social gatherings or want to be prepared for gatherings while traveling abroad. She is a certified etiquette consultant licensed by The Protocol School of Washington, D.C., and has been teaching etiquette for organizations the past 14 years. Fox's background includes 10 years in sales and marketing at Apple Computer. She takes care of the business end.

A recent etiquette workshop included a delicious, well-chosen gourmet meal at Sent Sovi, prepared by owner and chef David Kinch. His partner, Aimee Hebert, selected the wine. Not only was it a fun social evening, but everyone learned a lot. The course covered table settings, the dos and don'ts of dining, an education on various wines and how to serve them, points of protocol, handshakes, and the differences between Continental and American-style dining.

One Apple employee was there for the second time. The woman said she felt more socially relaxed this time. She brought a friend and her brother, who planned to put to use what he learned right away. Someone else in the class was going to be dining nightly in Europe. At the end of the evening she said she felt a lot more confident.

According to Janes, in the world of business etiquette, the "Ugly American" stereotype may be a reflection of poor corporate commitment to protocol. She said the Japanese spend millions each year on etiquette training. Ann McKim, a Saratoga resident who attended a previous workshop, said she won't hire anyone until she has dined with the person and seen their table manners firsthand.

Janes was raised in England and had her grandmother's place setting on hand. She stumped us all on one implement. It was a utensil for getting bone marrow out! Some tips that were given throughout the meal:

*In formal dining, do not start eating or drinking until the host and hostess have started.

*Do not spread your napkin completely over your lap, Keep it folded in half. It is only used for dabbing the corners of your mouth.

*Tear a small piece of bread at a time and butter it on the plate.

*Pace your eating, and don't push your plate away when you are finished. Always leave your knife and fork on the plate.

*Have good posture during the meal and keep your shoes on.

*If the person sitting next to you is using your bread plate or one of your utensils, don't call attention to the error. Be discreet and respectful and ask the waiter for another.

*Bacon is eaten with a knife and fork. Only very crisp bacon may be eaten with the fingers.

*The old rule about white wine served with fish and red wine with meat isn't true in modern times. Either one can be used.

*How do you prevent the Cornish game hen from flying across the table? Ask to have it deboned ahead of time or have it cut in half.

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