Communicate with the serving personnel as well as host/hostess. If the food is excellent I'm usually asking for an opportunity to thank the chef directly which then leads to detailed discussions of the dish I ordered. After some short shop talk, I'm asked how long will I be in the area and would i be interested in coming in and working in their kitchen while i was in town?

At stores I'm often helping customers who look lost. Discussion leads to learning they are buying ingredients for a specific recipe. I gladly show them where to find what they are looking for. Sometimes I show them alternatives if what they want isn't in stock. This leads to more talk about their recipe where i give out pointers on techniques to help them make the best attempt at making their dish. Sometimes this leads to department managers or store directors approaching me afterwards asking me what I do for a living and once they realize I'm semi retired they asked me to come work for them.

They are hurting for qualified personnel, and struggling to get unqualified personnel up to snuff in their duties.