The anniversary of the ill-fated voyage of Titanic is celebrated each April 14th. At 2:20 am. on April 15, 1912, the British ocean liner sank about 400 miles south of Newfoundland, Canada. The massive ship, which carried 2,200 passengers and crew, had struck an iceberg two and a half hours before. 700 survived.
As a food historian, I appreciate gathering friends to pay homage to lives lost in the famous tragic event, but also to serving these dishes throughout the year. Downton Abbey fans are particularly drawn to this tragedy as the series opens with news directly affecting the Crawley family.
The Marvel of Titanic’s Kitchens
There is much trivia to appreciate about the ship. Passengers in steerage had never dined as well in their lives. Titanic was equipped with some of the most sophisticated culinary facilities afloat and boasted elegant cafes and opulent dining saloons that rivalled the finest restaurants in Paris and London.
A huge staff prepared 6,000 meals a day. The main galley featured serving pantries; a butcher shop; a bakery; vegetable kitchens; specialized rooms for silver and china; rooms for wines, beer and oysters; and huge storage bins for the tons of coal needed to fuel the 19 ovens, cooking tops, ranges and roasters. They even had huge freezer compartments when even grand houses like Downton had to rely on cold storage rooms and iceboxes.
If you are looking for a great COVID time read to learn more about Titanic’s foodservice and recipes, I highly recommend Last Dinner On the Titanic: Menus and Recipes from the Great Liner.
Downton’s Titanic Inside Joke
We all remember Edith’s wedding disaster in S3E03. What you might not know was that many of the dishes were also served in 1st Class on Titanic. I am sure that these menu choices were reflective of Julian Fellowes’s keen interest in Titanic but perhaps were also meant to foreshadow the catastrophe at the altar. Equally amusing was that the Downton staff didn’t know what to make of the food when offered the leftovers.
The dishes included:
- Oysters à la Russe
- Calvados Glazed Duck
- Asparagus Salad with Saffron Vinaigrette
- Lobster Rissoles with Mousseline Sauce
From Asparagus Salad to Chocolate Eclairs
Fortunately, menus survived the disaster; survivors had tucked the menus into their pockets. In 2012, on the 100th Anniversary, I researched and prepared each dish, modifying recipes to current tastes where applicable.
While you are at home with time on your hands, you don’t have to prepare a whole Titanic meal to honour the past. With 42 dishes from that last dinner on April 14th served in 3 classes of passengers, there is plenty to choose from.
I often prepare a unique dish and present it to my guests noting its connection to the Titanic. Great Food Has a History!
Click on the Menu links to reveal the recipes in each class.
1st Class Menu 2nd Class Menu 3rd Class Menu
