Manners Are Memorable
By Juliet (Ms. J) Mitchell
Good manners never go out of style. Our mothers and grandmothers were, more often than not, the experts at teaching us those manners—I know they were with my family, especially if we were having guests for dinner or other special occasions. Simple place settings are one thing, but when they become more complex, I hand the honors over to our master etiquette trainer, Juliet Mitchell, in her book Manners Are Memorable at the Dining Table.
In this book, Mitchell reminds us of the lessons of fine dining and helps us navigate our way through place settings, be they for a simple sit-down dinner or a royal banquet. She teaches us the history of the dining utensils, which were at first reserved only for the aristocracy. From place cards to plates to silverware to glasses to napkins, we learn the function of each and their placement in the grand scheme of the dining experience. She simplifies what can mystify us.
Mitchell gives us the tips, illustrations, and strategies that help us in any social situation. She is the creator of an etiquette curriculum, Social Education and Life Etiquette (SELF). She is also a columnist for the Minnesota Spokesman Recorder with the byline Life Etiquette According to Ms. J, and the recipient of the Fearless Commerce Award, recognizing the success of Black women entrepreneurs.
Manners Are Memorable can be purchased through her website, lifeetiquetteinstitute.com.
Thank you, Ms. J, for carrying forward the lessons our grandmothers taught us, the kind that last a lifetime.
W.D. Foster-Graham
W.D. Foster-Graham is a native son of Minneapolis, Minnesota. He received a B.A. in psychology from Luther College, and he was an original member of the multi-Grammy-Award-winning ensemble, Sounds of Blackness. He has also been recognized by the International Society of Poets as one of its “Best New Poets of 2003,” is a guest writer for journalist/author/entertainer Wyatt O’Brian Evans.
