Whether you are dining at a Michelin restaurant or a private banquet, you will choose champagne or wine for your meal. If there is no dedicated sommelier or service staff, we may need to pour for yourself or for others. Therefore, it is very important to master the correct knowledge of wine and wine pouring! Earlier, we have shared knowledge about the opening of wine and champagne. In this issue, we will continue to explain the key points of the wine after opening the bottle!
The Wine Holding a bottle
First, hold the glass or place the glass on the table.
Avoid: Covering the bottle label when holding the bottle.
Suggestion: Hold the bottle with the hand you are used to, and make sure the label is exposed to ensure that other guests can see it.
Pouring the wine
Avoid: The top of the bottle touching the rim.
Recommendation:
1. The bottle top is located directly above the middle of the glass, and the height is 1-2cm from the glass is the best;
2. The speed of pouring the wine should be moderate. Too slow will cause the liquid to drip over the glass.
Level of serving
Avoid: More than one-half, or overfilling.
Suggestion: pour from 1⁄3 to 1⁄2 of the wine glass, this level guarantees that we have enough space to shake the glass.
When to refill
When the wine in the glass is about to reach the bottom, ask the other person/guest if they need a refill.
The Champagne Holding a bottle
1 Restaurant serving service: Place the champagne glass on the table;
2 Private Banquet: You can choose to hold a champagne glass.
Avoid: Holding the bottle like it’s a wine bottle.
Recommendation: The thumb is in the bottom of the bottle and holds the bottle with the palm of your hand.
Pouring the champagne
The way to pour the champagne depends on how the champagne glass is placed.
1. If placed on the table horizontally:
When the restaurant or hotel service staff pours champagne, the cup is usually placed on the table. If the cup is on the table, you need to pour twice. For the first time, the bubbles overflowed the cup. Wait a moment until the bubbles fall and then pour again. When pouring champagne, slowly along the side of the glass, you can reduce the generation of bubbles.
2. If holding a champagne glass:
You need to tilt the glass at 45 degrees. Pour the champagne along one side of the glass while slowly straightening the cup. Holding a glass of champagne can effectively control the generation of bubbles.
Level of serving
Avoid: less than half of the glass
Suggestion: Not less than 1⁄2 and more than 3⁄4 of the champagne glass
When to refill
When the level of the champagne is less than one-third, you can refill!
This article was first published by Michelin Guide.
Dear Ladies and Gentleman, I am sure you are wondering: how to always have the perfect genuine smile that captures everyone’s attention? How to keep our smile young over the years? How to smile more naturally? How to lose the fake smile?
As an answer to these questions, I propose three facial exercises that you can adopt every day.
The smile line eraser exercise Why this exercise
With this exercise, you can work at reducing the fine lines around your mouth appearing over the years, helping you look younger and giving you a more natural, brilliant smile. How to do it
Pucker up: purse your lips as dramatically as possible by sucking in your cheeks and rolling your lips out.
Attempt to smile while you’re puckering.
Hold this pose until there’s a mild aching sensation in the muscles around your mouth, then release. How often to do it
This exercise should be done only once a day, in order to avoid straining the muscles of your face.
The smiling muscle exercise Why this exercise
With adopting this exercise we keep our muscles around the mouth young and in good shape, so we are always ready to express the perfect smile with easiness. How to do it
Start by sitting or standing in front of a mirror, whichever is more comfortable, with your face and lips in a relaxed state.
Stretch the corners of your mouth laterally (to the sides) while keeping your lips together; hold for 10 seconds.
Expand the lateral stretch and part your lips to expose the edge of your teeth; hold for 10 seconds.
Stretch further laterally and expose about half of your teeth; hold for ten seconds.
Smile as wide and hard as you can, with all your teeth showing; hold for ten seconds.
Repeat steps 4, 3, and 2 to reverse the smile gradually.
How often to do it
This incremental exercise in smiling should be done once a day, the best time is in the morning.
“Duchenne genuine” smile exercise Why this exercise
With practice, you may be able to remove a fake smile by engaging your eyes with your mouth. When your smile has the power to enthral other people, then you have a genuine smile, so-called Duchenne smile.
How to do it
Stand in front of a mirror but concentrate only on your eyes. You may find it helpful to cover the lower part of your face with a piece of paper.
Make your eyes smile; hold it for ten seconds.
When your eyes do smile, remember how it feels, including which muscles are working and how.
Repeat this exercise 3 times.
How often to do it
This exercise should be done once a day, the best time is in the morning until you master the smile.
Let’s review together, can you detect which from the following smiles are fake genuine smiles and tell us why do you think so?
Do you have any other exercises for gaining the perfect genuine smile? Please share with me!
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Dear ladies, the dress is an ultimate classic that can make a woman look elegant, casual, chic, sexy and a number of different things, depending on how and when the dress is worn. Therefore, if you wear an above the knee dress should you go to work? How to look taller if you wear a midi dress? Let’s review together!
Different length
Mini dress
When to wear
Perfect when going out at night, in case of some performance or casual occasions. How to wear
Wearing the tights with a mini dress can make it classier and offer more coverage.
Pair a small purse with mini dress style.
Wear flats for the daytime, and flats or heels for night time since heels make mini dresses look even shorter.
You should avoid
If your hemline doesn’t fall below your fingertips when your hands are next to the body, the skirt is too short, look for another one.
Picture 1: hemlines above the fingertips-too short
Picture 2: hemlines below the fingertips-appropriate length
Avoid fishnet or net tights and wear opaque or solid tights instead.
Don’t show too much skin.
Above the knee dress
When to wear
For any day & night occasions except the formal and business one. How to wear
Wear flats or high heels, depending on the occasion, dress type and comfort.
You should avoid
Avoid wearing a skirt hemline across the widest part of your thigh as it makes your thighs look bigger.
Knee length dress
When to wear
Wear in any day & night occasion, especially in business one. How to wear
Wear a belt, it will show more your feminine figure, it gives you a slimmer look.
Pair it with the strappy heels, they will elongate your legs.
You should avoid
Try to avoid wearing flat shoes since this hemline makes your legs appear shorter.
Cocktail dress
When to wear
Cocktail dresses are elegant, sleek, and perfect for most events, especially for the cocktail parties. How to wear
Wear them with high heels, both open and closed-toe shoes are acceptable for a formal or informal event.
For an elegant and refined look, pair your cocktail dress with a clutch or a mini bag.
You should avoid
Flat shoes are not going well with this kind of dress.
Midi dress
When to wear
In casual, elegant, work-related occasions. How to wear
A midi skirt is typically supposed to be worn at mid-calf-length. If you are petite then choose the one that falls just below your knees so it doesn’t make you look even shorter.
This dress usually fits snugly around the waist, so find one that fits correctly around your narrowest part of your waist.
Wear a pair of basic pumps or stilettos for the most elegant look.
You should avoid
Avoid shoes with ankle straps, they can make your legs look shorter.
Maxi dress
When to wear
These hemlines can be worn to any event from weddings to the beach and even the office. How to wear
Wear with pair of heels for elegant occasions and flats for more casual ones.
Pair it with a small purse for elegant events and with a bigger one for casual.
You should avoid
Don’t wear an oversized maxi dress in elegant occasions, it looks inappropriate and unstylish.
Floor length and longer dress
When to wear
Keep this length for the special events like black tie events, evening art performances like the symphony or opera, and of course for weddings. How to wear
Pair it with beautiful sparkling jewellery to enhance the look.
Wear high heels for the perfect appearance and visually longer appearance.
You should avoid
Make sure you are in control of the dress hemline and avoid trapping on it, also pay attention that someone else doesn’t step on it.
You cannot do back steps if you walk it’s only forward or you may step on the dress.
Dear ladies, when dressing, don’t forget what Coco Chanel said: “Simplicity is the keynote of all true elegance”.Keep that in mind when grooming for your next event! We are impatient to know what is your favourite dress length, please leave a comment!
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Dear ladies and gentlemen, show me your home and I will tell you who you are. Many of your habits are culturally inherited when it comes to maintaining your home, and especially your kitchen. We propose you to review what you may have done differently if you were born in another country. How would an elegant hostess maintain her home?
Chinese and Western Kitchen
As a matter of fact, the biggest difference comes from cooking habits. If you are Chinese you probably prefer stir-frying or quick frying, while if you are European or American you are rather used to heating or cooking food in the oven or fry pan, which means less oil and less cooking smell. As a consequence, the way you have arranged your kitchen space if totally different.
Spatial Arrangement
For Chinese, a kitchen is only a place for cooking. And when you cook, you have to close the kitchen door, otherwise, the smell would pervade the whole room. In other words, cleaning Chinese kitchen is more likely war with the cooking smell, as well as the greasy stains during and after the cooking process.
The western kitchen is usually open space, sometimes it could even be a part of the living room. Thus, the kitchen area is visually brighter and cleaner than the Chinese one. Some families will also set up a certain space in the kitchen to enjoy themselves (bar, coffee table, etc.), as a result, the western kitchen is no longer just a place for cooking, but also for socializing to some extent. So if you want to try Chinese stir-frying in a Western kitchen, you should really think about it first!
Kitchenware
Plus what we mention above that the Chinese way of cooking is often with more oil, the kitchen wares in China are also more diverse. That explains why nearly 90% of Chinese don’t trust dishwasher for cleaning their dishes; but prefer using a lot of detergents and cleaning the dishes with hands.
In comparison, most of the western dishes like beef, fish, etc. could be cooked by frying pan with little oil. And 90% of westerners would use the dishwasher with less or even no detergent when cleaning their dishes.
Cleaning Tips
Designated area Water sink: Salt the greasy stains of the water sink, and then wipe the area with plastic film; wash the sink with warm water. Kitchen tiles: Cover the tiles with a paper tissue, and then spray the detergent over the area. Keep it for 3-5 minutes, then remove the tissue and wash the tiles with warm water. Table: Salt the greasy area on the table, add salad oil onto the area; wait and then wipe it with a piece of cloth.
Appliances Microwave oven: Add some detergent to a bowl of cold water, then heat the water with microwave oven for 3 minutes. Wipe the inside of the oven with a paper tissue. Dishwasher: Place a cup of vinegar on the top rack, and run the machine without dishes. The vinegar works to loosen up any mineral deposits that might have built up.
Kitchenware The cutting board: Cover the board with paper tissue; add vinegar to a bowl of warm water and spray the mixture on to the board; wait for 5-10 minutes to remove the tissue and clean the board with clean water. Glasses: clean the inside of the glass with toothbrush and toothpaste, then clean it with fresh water.
Faux pas to avoid
– Wash the cutleries with clean water at least twice after using detergent or the chemical residues would cause health problems.
– Don’t use detergent to clean the cutting board, because some chemical composition in the detergent would pollute the wood board.
– Dishcloths should be cleaned and dried after use according to certain cleansing need. Prepare several dishcloths in the kitchen and don’t mix-use.
No matter what, you have to choose proper detergent and clean the kitchen regularly to keep your kitchen clean. What else do you know regarding this topic? Do you know any tips about cleaning the kitchen? Please share with us!
Dear ladies and gentlemen, raising a glass to toast with people from different countries may seem like a simple celebration. Needless to say, it is more than that. Giving a toast is a cultural experience, it shows whether or not we respect their cultures and values. I propose to review together, don’t lose your face anymore.
United States / Australia / Canada English: “Cheers” Most common drinks: Whiskey, beer Rules：The guest of honour is toasted and should reciprocate by giving a toast of thanks. At more formal gatherings, glasses are raised in response to a speech, and a group response is elicited. Simple, informal toasts involve raising a glass and saying “Cheers.” It is acceptable for women to propose a toast.
To do
– Wait for everyone to be served with a drink and the toast is proposed before drinking.
– In restaurants/ bars, don’t forget that everyone should take a turn to buy a round of drinks.
France French: “Santé !”, “À votre santé !”, “À la tienne, Etienne ! (“to your health”) Most common drink: Wine Rules：Glasses are generally raised as the toast is made and sometimes, clinked together before the first sip is taken.
To do
– After serving you wine, wait until everybody gets theirs and the hosts have given their toast, then drink.
– When toasting others, clink glasses with everybody at the table.
– Filling a wine glass more than halfway.
– When clinking glasses, don’t cross your arm over anybody else’s.
– Don’t drink the last half inch of wine from the bottle, since it contains sediment, and that would be a tragic insult to the quality of the wine.
Germany German: “Zum Wohl!” , “Prost!” (“goodhealth”) Most common drink: Beer, sekt Rules：The host gives the first toast. An honoured guest should return the toast later in the meal.
To do
– You should always touch all the glasses you can reach at your table when someone makes a toast.
– Don’t lose direct eye contact from the time the glass is raised, until it is placed back on the table.
Japan Japanese: 乾杯” (“Kanpai”= “dry the glass”) Most common drink: “Nihonshu”(Japanese sake) Rules：Usually, toasts are only made at the beginning and end of Japanese parties or drinking and dining sessions, usually by the Japanese host. Generally, the most senior person on the hosting side would have the honours.
To do
– If you want to finish drinking, just leave your glass mostly full, that means it’s enough, also stands forfood.
– If someone offers you to refill your glass, quickly finish your drink and represent them with an empty glass,because it’s rude to refill if there is already something in it.
– In return, you should pour the other person’s glass.
– Don’t pour for yourself, there are superstitions that those who pour for themselves are doomed to live many years alone.
Russia Russian:“zazdarovye” (Заздоровье – “to your health”) Most common drink: Vodka Rules：Drinking in Russia is seen as a bonding activity, even in business. It’s a way of building trust and breaking down barriers. The host starts with a toast and the guests reply.
To do
– Begin eating only after somebody says a toast.
– After the toast, clink your glasses together.
– Don’t drink vodka with something fruity, drink it straight.
– Don’t drink until the first toast is offered.
– Don’t clink your glass if it is a non-alcoholic beverage.
– Refusing to drink is unacceptable unless you give a plausible excuse (health, religion).
Thailand Thai: “Chai Yo”(“Hurray”= “cheers”) Most common drink: Thai beer and whiskey Rules: If you find yourself the guest of honour, you’ll probably be expected to sit at the middle of the table rather than at the head. The guest of honour is also usually expected to give a toast at some point. Toasts are often given throughout a drinking session, not just at the start.
To do
– If someone is your senior or of higher status, hold your glass slightly lower and clink low on theirs.
– Top off the glasses of people around you if you fill your own.
– Don’t drain your glass unless you want a refill.
Dear ladies and gentlemen, I hope you will have a memorable experience next time when giving an international toast and CHEERS to that! Or should I say À votre santé!
Dear ladies, I know most of you don’t like looking older than your time and more would like to look younger! Therefore, I propose you top fashion faux-pas that might be ageing you, and bits of advice on how to turn back the clock for each one.
Undergarments
Undergarments are the base, if this step in dressing is unproperly done, it will ruin your look, the ill-fitting bra will definitely age you.
My advice:
Ask for professional help. A lot of stores do offer their assistance in finding the right bra size.
Also, you can ask their help to find the correct bra style that will flatter your shape.
Avoid wearing the grandma’s panties, better find a more stylish one.
No more grandma’s panties
Besides ageing, finding the proper bra will correct your posture (no more slouching) and boost your clothing.
Baggy clothes
It is very popular nowadays but by hiding your body first you look larger and then you look less feminine and older as well.
My advice:
If you really like to have baggy clothes better find a stylist and/or tailor that will create a style that will at least slightly follow your body shape.
Try to combine femininity and loosen clothes
Tights
I often see ladies wearing the tights in the wrong size and colour. Too big tights create layers on your legs which will give the impression of too loose and old skin. Tights in nude colour are really unflattering as the skin tone never matches with the colour of the tights.
My advice:
Double check the size you need, it usually depends on your weight and height.
Instead of nude tights wear a colour skin sheer tights, that way the difference is not that obvious.
Wrinkled tights around ankles
Reading glasses/sunglasses
We spend many hours in front of different screens (pc, tablet, phone…) so most likely you will need one pair sooner or later. Glasses can make you look really older than you are.
My advice:
Use contact lenses.
Find a frame that fits your face shape.
Try on different shapes and ask people around you which ones are the most flattering.
Diamond face shape goes well with rounded glasses
Miniskirts
Very careful with them! Even though you are looking good, wearing a mini skirt or midriffs will draw attention to your age. In attempting to look younger, you will be considered older.
My advice:
Better use the slimmest part of your knee as a guideline to know where the hemline of your skirt should be. That way you will look younger and slimmer!
Inappropriate mini skirt
Fascinators
Even though they are very elegant and charming having one can age you if it’s not worn properly.
My advice:
The size: Depends on your hairstyle, the smaller the volume of your hair is, the smaller the size of the fascinator.
The shape: Should be the opposite shape of your face shape.
Good examples
Platform/chunky heels
By wearing the platform/chunky heels you don’t only look older, but also lager since they visually add weight to your lower body.
My advice:
Better wear high heels with a pointed toe, they will give you a slimmer and younger appearance.
Also, try to avoid high heels with a strap around the ankle, your legs will look shorter with them.
Better chose high heels with pointed toe
Unstylish sensible shoes
Sometimes sensible shoes lack in the style which means they are outdated and clunky even though they are extremely comfortable.
My advice:
Look for a pair that is stylish and comfortable at the same time. This pair will freshen up your entire look.
Stylish sensible shoes
Mixing prints and colours
Ladies tend to look younger and then they try to follow the current trends and to look fresh and “crazy“ young but then they end up being seen as a person that is too old. Avoid mixing too many styles in one outfit, or too big wordings.
My advice:
Do short research what is trending for a lady your age.
If you are mixing prints be sure they are in the same colour –steam and complementary in style.
Too many prints make you look older
Dear all, I hope this will help you in achieving a younger and slimmer look! Do you have any other points of interest regarding this topic? Please share with me!
Dear ladies, gentlemen and children, we spent a nice spring weekend on April 13th and 14th with our guests for the Royally Outstanding etiquette class held in Beijing.
We would like to thank the Ritz-Carlton Beijing Hotel for their support. We also appreciate the support from our partners Neuhaus and Christofle.
For those who didn’t have the chance to attend our etiquette class in Beijing, we are announcing today the new dates for our next open classes.
Beijing “Royally Outstanding” etiquette class
Table manners
Elite lunch practice
Table posture correction
Table posture correction
Table setting practice
Photo posing
King’s pose
Confident pose
Side pose
Afternoon tea
Holding and stirring
Holding and stirring
Sitting posture
Our afternoon tea set and Neuhaus chocolates
Shenzhen open classes announcement
May 25-26, Saturday & Sunday Hilton Shenzhen Futian
Address: Tower B, Great China International Finance Centre, 1003 Shennan Road, Shenzhen
For this etiquette class in Shenzhen we are doing things differently:
– May 25th, Saturday, Elegantly Outstanding etiquette class for adults
– May 26th, Sunday, Young Outstanding etiquette class for children
Apply in advance
If you would like to secure your seat and register for this etiquette class
– To be notified once we release the classes more in details
– Please contact us by scanning the Qr code
Partnership invitation
We take great pleasure in bringing these exclusive appearances to your attention and are delighted to offer you the opportunity to be part of our coming Etiquette Class. If your company is interested in being our class sponsor, please contact us:
Tel: +86 1522 1664 332 Loda
E-mail: info@acdebernadac.com
