Etiquette Tuesday: Unsolicited Advice

[ 4 ] October 25, 2011 | Johnna

Eggs Chesapeake

One of my top five pet peeves is unsolicited advice. This is the advice that you never ask for but someone feels it’s their duty to offer it during the most inconvenient convenient times. One of those many times in my life has been unfortunately during the dining hour. This week’s Etiquette Tuesday speaks to the unsolicited advisor: can you please keep your thoughts to yourself, just this once, please?? It has happened to all of us: you go out to eat, order something that looks less than appealing to the other party and they offer their frown and look disgust at your menu pick. What a way for me to start my meal…with your look of disgust.

Anyone who knows Johnna knows that frowns and even comments of disdain for what I have on my plate make me want it even more, but I think it is fair to comment on how rude it is for you to express your unsolicited advice on my entrée of choice. The inspiration for this post? Well on a few occasions I have been out with different folks who absolutely hate the sight of my Eggs Chesapeake. Anyone who also knows Johnna knows that she is always going to order one of the Eggs benedicts, Chesapeake’s or the like during brunch, it’s something about the hollandaise and poached runny interior that get me going on the weekends.

Now I have seen plenty of less than desirable things hit many plates, but I, like any good Oscar winning actress, know how to mask the disgust and pull off a stellar performance by simply focusing on my own dish. Shouldn’t that be what everyone is focusing on during the dining hour? Feeding themselves?…I’m just saying…

Tags: brunch, dining etiquette, Etiquette Tuesday

Category: Etiquette Tuesday

About the Author (Author Profile)

Johnna French is a Harlem NY native with deep roots in Panama, Washington, DC and North Carolina. All four places have heavily influenced her life and the foods she loves today. After graduating Howard University School of Law and beginning her life as a young professional in the city she was led to start Johnna Knows Good Food in November 2007 to keep family, friends and colleagues updated on where to go and what to eat while dining in the nation’s capitol. French, who still practices law, leads a team of three writers to cover the ever expanding Washington, DC food scene. French has been featured in print and television, appearing in Washingtonian Magazine and is a regular contributor to various local TV affiliates including WUSA 9, FOX 5 DC and WJLA (ABC Affiliate) News Channel 8. During the 2016-2017 football season, Johnna aired on Comcast Sports Mid-Atlantic (CSN) show, Redskins Life, as the weekly tailgate host. Johnna is currently a regular contributor to the FOX Baltimore Weekend morning show.