Publish at September 22 2008 Updated August 07 2024
In 1903, the Bottin mondain listed 12,000 exclusively Parisian families, selected from the Annuaire du Commerce according to criteria of social prestige. Today, this world-renowned directory boasts over 250,000 members who appreciate the art of good food and decorum.
The institution has modernized itself with the creation of a website, and since the addition of its Savoir-vivre section, it has become a portal for teaching good manners in the French tradition.
The Savoir-vivre section has four distinct chapters: Bienséance, Recevoir et être reçu, Corrrespondence and Protocole officiel.
In the Correspondence section, you'll find notions and letter templates that apply to all kinds of recipients and circumstances, both protocol and customary, from the courtesy formula to be used in a letter addressed to an ambassador to that used in a letter of invitation, thanks, condolence, congratulations or announcement.
In the section on the art of receiving and being received. You'll learn how to set the mood for a social gathering, from cocktails to a grand formal dinner, how to choose your guests, draw up a seating plan, welcome your guests and even how to get rid of a tardy guest with finesse.
Bienséance teaches you to respect the principles of sociability in all places and on all occasions: with your neighbors, in the office, at the restaurant, on the street and in the car, at the opera, in the theater, at the cinema, in public places and on public transport, and the list goes on. The section on Uses and Customs Abroad is currently unavailable, but it's sure to please those who travel abroad, as it outlines customs in countries other than France.
Although I find some polite expressions a little too formal, the fact remains that taste and elegance are important values, and before breaking a rule, it's important to know its principles.
Le Savoir-vivre du Bottin mondain: a site to keep an eye on for those who appreciate the art of fine dining and good manners.
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