The Wisdom of Butlers Past

by Steven Ferry

Part 26: Food & Beverage

Continuing to examine F&B as it was done two centuries ago, we find the following:

Tea Trays: Do not pour boiling water on them to clean them (really!), especially if they are made of paper or lacquered: Instead, use a sponge with hot water and soap. Here is something new: If the tray is very dirty, rub flour into it with a dry cloth.

Washing Glasses: Wash them as soon as possible after use by submerging them in cold water in a wooden bowl. “Rub off” anything hard caked onto the glasses and use hot water if you have to. And here is another idea: After washing glasses in hot water, as needed, always rinse them in cold water, or the glasses will dry too soon and look smeary: Similar, really, to washing cars and drying them in the shade, not allowing them to dry in the sun where they would dry too quickly.

Always dry the glasses lightly with one cloth, and then finish drying with another.

Extracted from the 1823 book, The Footman’s Directory and Butler’s Remembrancer, re-published in hardback by Pryor Publications.

You may obtain your discounted copy (with free s&h) by emailing the publisher: Mr. Pryor (alan AT pryor-publications.co.uk).

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.