Before we made our first trip to France a long time ago, we tried to read all that we could about how to make your visit especially enjoyable. One of the most curious tips was to flirt with your waiter. Although the article was written by a woman, she was careful to point out that flirting had nothing to do with the gender of the server but all about rapport and that it’s a two-way street. The last time we were in Paris we showed up at 7:00 PM without a reservation just as the restaurant was opening so naturally the place was empty. In my best French I explained that we had not booked in advance but could we please have a table. The gentleman who greeted us looked around, then back at us with a sad face, and then promptly placed us in the window seat facing the sidewalk. By 8:00 PM every seat was taken and we still remember the meal and the wonderful service. Continue reading “Flirting with the waiter”