You don't want to be a Mr. Bungle?

 It occurred to me that I have never addressed why i find manners to be so  important. I grew up in a household with a very relaxed set of manners, we had to ask to be excused from the dinner table and no elbows on the table, of course. Every family has their own set of rules, my family was no different and it was not until i was an adult that i found social etiquette and dining etiquette to be so important. I know some find it boring, but some have been able to make light of etiquette rules and believe it or not, Pee Wee Herman was able to do just that.
The first time I saw a Coronet Instructional Film was coincidentally the first time i watched the Pee Wee Herman Show. The very first televised episode of the Pee Wee Herman show was aired in the early 80's on HBO. It was a hilarious spoof on children's variety t.v. programs from the 1950's. In the 40's and 50's there was a company, Coronet, who produced educational films that aired in schools across the United States. Perhaps in the 40's, 50's and 60's these films were more relevant, but today they are quite comical. In Pee Wee's variety show he showed a Coronet Instructional Film, called "Lunchroom Manners.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2XGG1NouAzg
Even though over twenty years have passed since this episode of the Pee Wee Herman show has aired, whenever I see an example of bad manners I think of "Mr. Bungle." Perhaps if this blog takes off and becomes viral I will have t-shirts printed with "what would Mr. bungle do?" I hope you will find this video as comical as I do and perhaps you will catch yourself reciting, "what would Mr. bungle do?"

Public Transportation Etiquette.

How to prevent a public transportation nightmare.

A few years ago I traveled to Chicago for the first time by myself. Prior to my trip I did some research and found it would be cheaper for me to fly to Chicago and use "the L" (the public train) than to drive and park my car for four days!For my car to sit in the hotel garage and collect dust would have cost me $140, I had other plans for that money. I was a little nervous to navigate "the L" and the city by myself, but also excited. I am happy to report I had a successful trip,with no problems and will only use "the L" or taxi when in Chicago.

When planning a summer vacation in the big city it is important to learn about public transportation system in the city you are visiting. Public transportation is my preferred mode of transportation at home and when I travel because it is so convenient and cost effective. It is very easy to print maps,bus and train schedules and even buy transportation passes prior to your visit.
New York - http://new.mta.info/nyct
San Fransisco -http://www.sfmta.com/
Chicago -http://www.transitchicago.com/
Paris -http://www.parispass.com/how-it-works/paris-visite-pass.html?aid=39&gclid=CJvCut7tgrgCFaU5QgodMWUAOA
London -http://www.londonpass.com/london-transport/index.html?aid=26&gclid=CPj0sp_ugrgCFS9dQgodSEoAFQ#.Uct3Ojvvt14
A few public transportation do's and don'ts will help make your travel a little easier.Not only will public transportation provide a safe, effective mode of transportation for you and yours, but could also create some long lasting memories of the big city.
http://etiquette.about.com/od/Manners/a/Public-Transportation-Etiquette.htm

Wedding Etiquette

A few tips for the wedding season.

I always love to talk about wedding etiquette with my cousin, who never gives wedding gifts because he thinks it is gift enough that he attend the wedding. My cousin is the life of any party, which is a gift in itself,so perhaps he has an affliction to buying gifts. This would not surprise me he learned his gift purchasing skills or lack there of from my Uncle who once gave my Aunt a gallon jug of Jean Nate perfume, because he knew she was fond of the fragrance.It may be best to not receive a wedding gift from my cousin after all? 

Perhaps this post should be about proper gift giving etiquette, but since we are beginning wedding season here in the United States, I thought Wedding Etiquette was more important. Giving a gift is a great way of sharing in the newly married couple's happiness, but there are many rules to remember as a guest at a wedding.If you are anything like me, I have not been the most courteous guest at a wedding and I am in need of a refresher course.  
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/06/17/wedding-etiquette-the-dos_n_879354.html

Wine Tasting Etiquette for the not so Wine Enthusiast.

Yes, wine tasting has it's own set of rules, it is not just about throwing back a few glasses and catching a quick buzz.Believe it or not, any set of rules where etiquette is concerned are to make you the feel more comfortable in an atmosphere that is somewhat new to you. Familiarizing yourself with these rules will help in making your tasting adventures even more enjoyable.

Even for the novice wine taster, learning a few rules and going to your local grocery store for a wine tasting is a great way to practice your new skills. I recommend taking wine notes,name of the wine, varietal, year, wine region, what you tasted, what you smelled, what you liked, what you did not like, and if you have your cell phone handy take a photo of label, this way you won't forget a wine you liked when it comes time to making a purchase.I have found that with a few proper wine etiquette skills i receive better service from tasting room employees, winemakers and often time receive a few extra tastes and tastes of some unreleased wines, which is always a treat.
Here are a few simple rules of wine etiquette from a great oenophile website, Bottlenotes. Enjoy and Happy Tasting!!http://www.bottlenotes.com/the-daily-sip/wine-tips/wine-knowledge-etiquette

Russell Brand takes over MSNBC interview.

Even journalists use bad manners.

After writing about proper etiquette, i thought it was high time to write about improper etiquette. I am sure we are all subjected to bad manners on a daily basis, and it happens so often we become immune to it. Perhaps we should use Russell Brand as an example and demand  to be treated with respect and decency.

As i watched this interview i was surprised how long he tolerated  the journalist behavior before he reacted. In my opinion, this is one of the worst interviews i have ever seen, but he was right to react the way he did and i commend him for it. Shame on the journalist for doing their job so poorly. Perhaps doing some research about your guest and having good questions prepared would have prevented this from being an example of bad etiquette.

An American Abroad.

An American in Paris: Surviving a Dinner Party in France

As i researched ideas for posts on this blog, it occurred to me that dining etiquette and etiquette as a whole is different in every household across this country and in every home around the globe. While it is hard to know every countries customs, there are some basic rules to follow that will help the world traveler assimilate in a foreign country. Each Thursday i will post some basic rules of etiquette to help you feel more comfortable while traveling abroad.

I believe there are a lot of misconceptions made by Europeans regarding the average North American citizen. We are thought of as loud, obnoxious and fat, while some of these stereotypes have some validity, i would like to put them to rest. 
France is rich in food and wine history, the people of France love their food and the preparation. Naturally, one must also have impeccable table manners to accompany the fine wine and dining. Here are a few tips for dining in France.

1) Follow the Leader
 In French dining etiquette this is the number one rule. If you do this and observe carefully  you will almost never error. In general, it is polite to wait until everyone is served and then  the host will begin eating and then it is your turn. 

2) Bread
Bread is served at every meal. A formal meal, bread will get its own plate, however if you  have no bread plate, the bread rests on the table cloth and not on your plate. Finally    
eating bread has its own set of rules. Most Americans take a bite out of a slice of  bread, the French consider this "boorish." Instead, tear off the bread piece by piece. If you are using the bread to soak up some sauce, please use your fork.

3)What to do with your hands
It is very rude to keep your hands in your lap while you are dining in France. It is equally rude to keep your elbows on the table and so the American diner must keep hands visible but not elbows. The French do not eat with their hands, this includes all "finger foods."


In summation, follow the leader, rip your bread piece by piece, speak with your hands, and absolutely NO ELBOWS ON THE TABLES! If you follow these simple rules you can survive, even enjoy a dinner party in a French home. Be sure to check back next week to learn how to dine out in France and properly tip. Au revoir!

    

Drinks before Dinnner

Punches, Pitchers and Planning

One of my favorite entertaining tips that is both time saving and sure to please your guests, is to make pitchers of signature gourmet cocktails  before your guests arrive. The cocktails i serve are determined by the season and what local produce and herbs are available, but a chilled pitcher of Manhattan's or Martini's will never go to waste. I usually mix a pitcher of cocktails just before my guests arrive and before i put the finishing touches on my outfit!
Martha Stewart, the entertaining Goddess that she is, always has great cocktail ideas on her website, from virgin cocktails to gourmet punches. I have tried many of her recipes and some are more labor intensive than others, plan accordingly so you are not stuck in the kitchen working while your guests are enjoying themselves.
http://www.marthastewart.com/357519/sangria-summer-punch-and-cooler-recipes/@center/276943/grilling-recipes
You do  not want your guests getting too tipsy before dinner is served, so planning ahead and only making one or two pitchers of Martini's will limit how many cocktails each person has. This is a great time to mingle with your guests and your signature cocktail can be a great conversation starter as well. I love making signature cocktails when guest come over, i believe it is the little creative touches that let your guests know just how special they are to you.http://youtu.be/as8M5i-4uiE