Singapore: Prosperous Entertaining
From ExecutivePlanet.com
Prosperous Entertaining
Lunchtime is always around twelve o'clock midday. Dinners do start early and typically do not stretch into the wee hours. 7pm to 9pm is a good guideline. Singaporeans love to eat, and seafood is at the top of the list. It is always best to check with your local counterpart concerning what cuisine he or she prefers or recommends. Most would go with local food rather than Western . Fusion restaurants, however, also offer a good blend of both. Singaporeans are notoriously late for social events. 30 minutes late is not a problem at all. Watch out, however, if the invitation card says “Sharp”. In that case there is an event planned which does not tolerate a delay, so please show up on time. For formal events, seating will be prearranged; if not, ushers will assist you or you may wait for the host to seat you.
Due to the multicultural nature of the country, there are few restrictions on what utensils are to be used. Whether it is a knife, fork, spoon or chopsticks, use what you are comfortable with. Of course, you will impress your hosts if you know how to use chopsticks or how to eat with your hands. The latter is not so easy to accomplish decently without prior practice.
Alcohol is pretty expensive in Singapore, so do not expect competitive drinking. Beer and wine are readily available and socially acceptable. However, do observe what your host orders, especially when the meeting partners are observing the Islamic faith. Similar caution is advised with regards to food and even soft drinks during the fasting season. It would be a big embarrassment to invite a Muslim business friend for lunch during that time.
If you are inviting local guests, do check on dietary requirements, i.e. no pork, Halal and /or vegetarian preferences.
Tipping is generally not necessary since a service charge is already levied on your final bill. Exceptions are very small restaurants where no service charge is indicated. At the lower end, in Food Courts, tipping is also not required.
