Message from the Chairman
by Steven Ferry
We are happy to announce that the International Butlers Day launched three days ago on the 28th of May, turned out to be a great success. (More data can be found on the International Butlers Day page elsewhere in this issue.)
Equally momentous is the launch of the Alliance of Professional Butler Trainers with a core of a dozen schools and trainers and more requesting to join. This really is a new beginning of stability and professionalism for our profession…
Butlers in the Media
by Steven Ferry
Apart from the usual ex-butler dispensing his opinions publicly about the private affairs of the British royal family, there was really just one butler mention of note in the media—an examination of why New Yorkers, at least, are paying a lot more for their domestic staff—figures like $150,000 for nannies, not including bonuses are mentioned, and $200,000 for chefs.
It appears it is an employee’s market currently, given the shortage of qualified staff created in part by employers becoming increasingly picky about who they want to…
Letters to the Editor
Regarding the South African Butler Academy court case:
“So, so very sad that so many students were blindly caught in this HOT MESS… and SABA is still tricking people. What a disgrace these people are.” C
Ed: You are quite right, it is a very sad state of affairs. Hopefully, the court will decide in a way that will put an end to this travesty. In the meantime, the Alliance…
The Wisdom of Butlers Past, Part 49: Dinner Procedure
by Steven Ferry
Continuing the recommended procedures for a formal dinner, by 6 pm, everything should be ready and it was time to warm the plates, heat the irons in the fire to keep the food warm; heat the water for the hot plates, fill bottles and cut-glass jugs with spring water (no running water from the municipality was used), prepare the drinks on the side table, as well as the bread, salad, cucumber, and cold meats—which were not pre-sliced, but required carving on request by the butler.
At 6:30 pm, the lamps and candles were lit in the dining room and…
Let’s Talk Mixology, Part 68: Grilled Pineapple Mojito
by Amer A. Vargas
This month we will discover a Mojito variation that is both eye-catching and amazingly flavorful.
Created by Johnny Swet, bartender and co-owner of Jimmy at the James in the Soho neighborhood of New York, this cocktail adds the kick and aromas of grilled pineapple to a quality mojito, and brings about an extended cocktail experience for any mojito lover, as presented in liquors.com.
In Johnny’s own words, “Not only does grilled pineapple add a great visual element…
My Butler Julius: In What Kind of Pot Should Tea Be Brewed?
by Butler Julius
I have been asked whilst serving afternoon tea, if there is any difference between using a porcelain tea pot and a silver one. The obvious answer is price; however, the complete answer is a little more complicated than that: Traditionally, tea was sourced from two countries—China and India.
Tea from China is more delicate and so is better suited to porcelain pots, as these are flavor-neutral and do not alter the taste, colour, or bouquet of the tea…
Paying Attention to Details
Because one image can say more than a thousand words, click on “read more” to find out how good (or not so good) someone’s attention to detail can be, and be left speechless…
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Care of Leather Goods, Part 8: Waterproofing Leather
by Steven Ferry
Waterproofing over and above the use of wax polishes is generally not needed, as most leathers are already waterproofed. However, where the leather is often exposed to significant levels of moisture—rain, bodies of water, snow—then waterproofing can be applied to prevent the leather from becoming saturated.
This Mink oil shown is a good waterproofing agent; so is beeswax. Best to test the product in a less-visible area to see if it darkens the leather appreciably. It is quite likely to do so and this cannot be avoided except by testing another product that may darken less…
Coming Soon… Online Hospitality Butler Course!
by Amer A. Vargas
Being a butler is not just a profession. Some say it’s almost an art; it’s definitely a philosophy and a way of life.
Whether your company be a hotel, a resort, a cruise ship, rental villas or time-share properties, if you require training of your butlers, the new IIMB Online Hospitality Butler Course could help improve your butler team’s skills. The course provides a deeper look into the butler’s soft skills, including how to manage themselves as a true butler would. It teaches butlers new and old such skills as the right demeanor, the proper communication, the way to approach service, the butler’s Etiquette & Protocols and even how excellent butlers expertly handle very difficult situations with their guests…
International Butlers’ Day
The first ever celebration of International Butlers’ Day was a great success, as butlers around the world made gestures, big and small, to acknowledge and celebrate the day set aside to recognize their unique profession.
It is heartening to see so many butlers applying their skills and caring for their employers and guests the world over. Even the Fiji Times ran an article on a local butler in honour of International Butler’s Day, creating the perception in the minds of our clients…….
Creative Corner
ft. Kobi Gutman and Rick Fink
We are expanding this monthly column to include other butlers who, not surprisingly, given the level of creativity the position requires, enjoy skills in the fine arts. If you, or any butler you know, are a creative artist in no matter what genre, please feel free to submit your/their works to the editor of the Modern Butlers’ Journal.
Next month, we hope to include “The Butler who Paints,” and for this month, we have a wonderful surprise…….
The Institute is dedicated to raising service standards by broadly disseminating the mindset and superior service expertise of that time-honored, quintessential service provider, the British Butler, updated with modern people skills, and adapted to the needs of modern employers and guests in staffed homes, luxury hotels, resorts, spas, retirement communities, jets, yachts & cruise ships around the world. Contact us for all your training needs via email at enquiries@modernbutlers.com or via telephone: USA 1-813- 354-2734. We invite you to also visit our website www.modernbutlers.com for more information.
Please email the editor of The Modern Butler’s Journal at newsletter@modernbutlers.com with any article ideas, concerns, comments, or suggestions.