‘The Business of Dining’ by Debbie von Ahrens Is an Essential Guide to Dining, Networking and Professional Presence

A table in a restaurant can be a surprisingly important professional setting. Business relationships are often built outside the office, over lunch, dinner, and conversation, and even an interview can take place over a meal. The Business of Dining: A Guide to Making a Five-Star Impression by Debbie von Ahrens is an award-winning guide to mastering those moments, written for readers who want to build confidence and leave a lasting impression.

Tools for Every Seat at the Table

By her own description, the book gives readers “the confidence to feel at ease at every table, in every seat, on either side of the menu.” Whether someone is the guest or the host, the chapters cover practical ground: understanding restaurant hospitality, speaking the language of food and wine, navigating table settings with ease, ordering with confidence, and hosting graciously.

Because the lessons are meant to be put to work right away, it helps that the guide is available in hardcover, paperback, Kindle and audiobook editions. A young professional starting a career can use it to prepare for a first business lunch, while an executive can use it to host a client more smoothly. Readers who travel, or who simply want to feel more comfortable in restaurants, will find advice they can apply at their very next meal. Debbie’s website also offers a companion Dining Illustrations visual guide to table settings, silverware, and American versus Continental dining styles.

Connection is part of the goal as well. Readers are encouraged to think about whom they are meeting, where they are going, and what would make the occasion even more special. In her view, a diner who understands what the restaurant and its staff have done on their behalf can enjoy the evening as a guest and also help it come together. The aim, as her website puts it, is to turn every meal into a chance to build real relationships and leave a lasting impression.

Homework Can Be Fun

One of Debbie’s favorite lessons is that learning about food does not have to be dull. A bartender she admired from Augustine, Brandon, had worked at a seafood restaurant for many years and could describe every fish and oyster in exquisite detail. Debbie insisted that they go out for oysters one night.

At Crave Fishbar on the Upper West Side, they sampled eight different types of oysters side by side and discussed each one. Debbie wanted to be able to tell the differences in taste and texture. It was her first West Coast oyster, which she found delicate and delicious, with a deep round belly and sharp scalloped edges, unlike the flatter, brinier East Coast oysters. As the night went on, the waiter and the bartender joined in with suggestions as well.

She suggests that readers can turn the same idea into a social habit. An oyster bar can be a fun place to spend an evening with a client or a friend, and for someone with limited time, happy hour offers oysters and wine in a more relaxed setting.

About the Author

Restaurants in New York came first for Debbie von Ahrens, and a long run in television advertising followed, which ended with her retirement from FOX5 and MY9 in the top sales role. Her corporate seminars and workshops for learning and development teams, sales organizations, law firms, and universities cover dining confidence, conversation, and listening skills.

A Practical Resource for Any Professional

Other readers have found plenty to use. Joanne Cini, a former SVP of Sales and Marketing for NBC Television Stations, calls it “a must-have addition to anyone’s library,” and financial journalist Walecia Konrad, who spent years entertaining sources over meals, says she would have loved a cheat sheet like it when she was starting out.

Its honors include Bronze in the Business Life category at the 2024 Global Book Awards, along with the 2024 Best Independent Book Award. For anyone who wants to order, host, or simply sit down at a business meal with a little more poise, it is a friendly and practical reference.

Hospitality Expertise and Corporate Seminars

We had the privilege of interviewing Debbie von Ahrens. Here are excerpts from the interview:

Please introduce yourself and tell us what you do.

I’m Debbie von Ahrens, author of the award-winning The Business of Dining: A Guide to Making a Five-Star Impression. My professional life has combined two worlds: New York City’s restaurant industry and nearly three decades in broadcast advertising, where I served as Vice President, Director of Sales for FOX5 and MY9.

Today, I also offer corporate seminars focused on professional presence, business dining, and networking confidence.

Please tell us about your journey.

I started in hospitality at One Fifth in 1978. After a long career in advertising, I returned to restaurants, working at Augustine, helping reopen Balthazar, and helping launch Chef Marc Forgione’s One Fifth.

I recognized that many people, including accomplished professionals, feel uncertain in formal dining situations. I wanted to take the mystery out of restaurant etiquette and share the insider knowledge that makes dining more enjoyable.

That became The Business of Dining.

What strategies helped you become successful?

I’ve always valued preparation, attention to detail, and the ability to connect with people. Hospitality taught me to anticipate needs, while advertising taught me how important relationships are to business success.

Combining those lessons has shaped both my book and my corporate seminars.

Any message for our readers?

Good dining etiquette isn’t about memorizing a collection of rigid rules. It’s about understanding the experience so you can focus on the people you’re with.

From reservations and menus to table settings, tipping, and handling service, a little knowledge goes a long way.

Through my book and seminars, I hope to make those skills accessible to everyone. Whether you’re entertaining a client, attending an interview lunch, or enjoying dinner with friends, confidence makes the entire experience better.

Thank you so much, Debbie, for giving us your precious time! We wish you all the best for your journey ahead!