Bon Appétit

 Bon Appétit is the French for 'Enjoy your meal'. It was also used in many other places such as the name of a magazine. But if you heard this or someone wrote it in an email or a letter, just know that it means enjoy your meal.  Definition by urbandictionary.com

It is a word we always used in my preschool class when the children sat down for lunch.  One of the funniest time children have in school.  The teachers and I would ask them about their meal.  What they enjoyed what they called what they were eating.  Kids come up with the funniest words for foods their parents pack in their lunch box.  One of my student’s mom would bring him a warm meal every day at lunch time.  It was my favorite time in school as a teacher and a director. Listening to the children’s laughter, the teacher’s correction on etiquette and then our laughter as our students tried our corrections.  It is so cute to hear a child say please, thank you, may I, could you please….  They look like little grownups….                                                                                           
                                                                                                                              (Picture compliments of Emily Post website)

I stopped teaching and directing because as my own children grew they had needs and my teaching income did not provide enough to live off of.   Here is a little propaganda.  Vote for more educational funds. 

Event planning is a little like being a teacher and a director.  Only the students are grown up and educating them on etiquette is more like reminding them. One of the funniest part of being a meeting and event planner for my clients is attending the food tasting. Just like lunch time in school adult also enjoy a good time and meal.  I love a good meal just like anyone else.  It is not the meal in and of itself.  It is all the preparation for the day, finding the right combination of dishes that would please them.  Talking with the chefs, clients, finding out their interest and creating a special feast for their banquet is my very favorite thing to do.  It takes hours to put all of these things together.  

If it is a wedding, I get the privilege of speaking with her about her and his favorite foods, and then I have them speak with their parents about their favorite foods.  It is a time for their new families to become one family.  Questions help a client find commend things to agree upon to make the day less stressful.   If there is a match we pick a meal.  In alphabetical order there is a beef, chicken, fish, and vegetarian dish to try out.  The fun part for me is seeing if the chief and I can come up with a combination that will make our clients feel like we know them.  Food feeds our body, minds and our souls.  It helps us spend time we share those we love the most.  At the end of each tasting, sometimes at the beginning, we work some magic with mixology.   We come up with a beverage that has their name on it.  It is a drink the couple or the guest of honor is known for.  It may or may not have alcohol.  Usually it is the main drink that is served throughout the night saving my client money.

Then next time you are looking for an event planner, know that there are hours upon hours it takes to make your event beautiful, to make you feel wonderful to hopefully have your day be as special as the person who hired her.