Dippity Do's and Don'ts

In the photo: CF's rules of chip etiquette: 1) Don't eat potato chips while making business calls; 2) Chips are meant to be eaten, not made into art installations; 3) Stop trying to delude yourself that eating chips is educational; 4) Why serve chips just plain out of the bag? Show your guests you care with a sprinkling of fresh, seasonal, organic herbs.




By some mysterious force we find ourselves on PR lists broadcasting from some far flung points of the map – like Milwaukee. Normally we hit the delete button due to subject matter entirely unrelated to our westcoast interests, but this missive seemed to address a universal problem, especially in this height of the cocktail season. What, oh what, ARE the rules of etiquette when it comes to chip dipping … so here goes the press release….



“Dip, that ubiquitous part of any fully dressed holiday party buffet, can be a protocol challenge for even the most seasoned host. What to say to the guest who's a double dipper? How to manage the chip breaker? When to refresh the dip bowl after a visit from the dip hog? How to discretely rescue the wedgied veggie from Aunt Martha's dip bowl?

"In Milwaukee, where there's more Dean's Dip consumption per capita than any other major American city, these kind of dip do's and don'ts are a real challenge for holiday hosts and bowl game watchers," says Steve Davenport, who manages Dean's Dip production at the company's Thornton, IL facility. "Dips, chips, veggies, friends and family are all part of any good party, but sometimes it can get a little messy when you combine them all."

“The solution? A visit to Dean's new www.diveintodip.com website provides a host of tips to the party starter, including a list of the "Dean's Dip Dip Tips: Top 10 Dip Do's and Don'ts to Encourage Responsible Dipping. It's even downloadable so it can be discreetly left out on the buffet table or bar as helpful hints for that certain someone at the party who continually double dips or finger fishes in the dip.

"We can understand how people can go a little wild in their dipping habits this time of year," says Wendy Gillett, a national food columnist and co-author of the Dean's Dip Dip Tips, adding, "These dips are so delicious, especially my favorite the French Onion Dip, that it can be hard to control yourself. And it's just so easy to come home from a hard day's work or holiday shopping extravaganza, take your Dean's Dip out of the fridge, open your favorite beverage and bag of chips and invite some friends over for a dip-and-chat mini party. I'm hoping a few simple dip tips will bring peace and joy to many holiday parties during this special time of year."