Q: Are they serving it in a brown bag?

A: Even if you don't see it (ESPECIALLY if you don't see it), Yes, they're serving it in a brown bag.

Translation: If you're eating their shrimp and roast beef, you're drinking their kool-ade.

'My negotiating committee eats for me '

That's one way of looking at it I suppose. Another way is that you've already paid for the chow, so you might as well eat it and enjoy to fellowship there at the dinner. After all, you'd probably be too busy eating and conversing with friends, to actually talk to or acknowledge any of the management types hanging around. Happy Holidays.