Sinking of the Titanic. © funnytools / pixabay.com / 2014 / CC0 1.0
The 15th of April marks the day when the Titanic sunk in 1912.
The Titanic almost seems like it was one big floating restaurant. The ship had a whole area on the aft port side called the “refrigeration plant”, that supplied the cooling for separate refrigerated rooms for meats (and each kind of meat, including game, had its own separate room), flowers, wines, cheeses, fish, etc., so that each item could be stored at the right temperature for it. It also powered the ship’s ice-making facilities. In fact, there was also a separate refrigeration system running throughout the entire ship, supplying chilled drinking water and providing chilled refrigerators at each bar throughout the ship.
Meals for first and second class passengers were prepared in the same kitchens. There were set meal times, but first class passengers could also order “à la carte” anytime up to 11:00 pm.
The last dinner served in first class had eleven courses. On the last morning, the passengers had Oxford brand marmalade with their breakfast.
Though this day is probably more an occasion that you observe or commemorate rather than celebrate with marching bands, a nod to the occasion with perhaps marmalade at breakfast might not go amiss.
“Seize the moment. Remember all those women on the ‘Titanic‘ who waved off the dessert cart.” — Erma Bombeck.
#SinkingOfTheTitanic
Third class bowl from the Titanic. © Scott D Welch / flickr / 2010 / CC BY 2.0
Literature & Lore
First class breakfast menu for the last day, 14th April 1912:
Baked apples
Fruit
Steamed Prunes
Quaker Oats
Broiled Hominy
Puffed Rice
Fresh Herring
Findon Haddock
Smoked Salmon
Grilled Mutton
Kidneys & Bacon
Grilled Ham
Grilled Sausage
Lamb Collops
Vegetable Stew
Fried, Shirred, Poached & Boiled Eggs
Plain & Tomato Omelettes to Order
Sirloin Steak and Mutton Chops to Order
Mashed Sauté and Jacket Potatoes
Cold Meat
Vienna and Graham Rolls
Soda & Sultana Scones
Corn Bread
Buckwheat Cakes
Black Current Conserve
Narbonne Honey
Oxford Marmalade
Watercress
Language Notes
Many people think the ship’s name is spelled and pronounced “Titantic”, tossing an extra T in towards the end.
New York Herald Front Page. © New York Herald / 15 April 1912 / Library of Congress / wikimedia
Further reading
Rick Archbold and Dana McCauley. Last Dinner On the Titanic: Menus and Recipes from the Great Liner.