Keeping up appearances

Once in a while I have to attend outings with people I wouldn't mix privately with, but usually these are fancy gatherings and who am I to say no to a free meal? It is sauted this, and brewed that, it's parfoiled and panfried, it's roasted and seared and what-have-you. Mind you, it does look nice but tastes well, funny. Best case, they have used some spices for the cooking. The good thing is at those type of outings the servants are observant and come around with the wine bottle ever so often. Probably because they would rather die before participating in one of these parties themselves and have compassion. And that's all I have to say about that really. Besides, who in their right mind goes home at 10 o'clock in the evening after a free booze evening???