The Titanic's Crew Member Experience

Tasting History with Max Miller20 minutes read

Crew members on the RMS Titanic had varied dining experiences based on their roles and ranks, with some enjoying complex dishes like sirloin of beef with chateau potatoes while others had simpler meals. The crew faced tragic losses during the Titanic sinking, with survivors enduring harsh treatment from the White Star Line.

Insights

  • The crew members aboard the RMS Titanic had varying dining experiences based on their roles and ranks, with some enjoying complex dishes like sirloin of beef with chateau potatoes while others had simpler meals.
  • The crew of the Titanic, including stewardess Violet Jessop, faced tragic losses during the sinking, with survivors enduring harsh treatment from the White Star Line, highlighting the challenging circumstances they encountered beyond the dining experiences.

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Recent questions

  • How were meals for crew members aboard the RMS Titanic described?

    Simple food, complex dishes like sirloin of beef.

  • What was included in Auguste Escoffier's recipe for sirloin of beef with chateau potatoes?

    Béarnaise sauce, steak, chateau potatoes, meat glaze.

  • How did Escoffier's recipe suggest shaping the chateau potatoes?

    Olive-like forms, careful cutting and carving.

  • What was involved in the preparation of Escoffier's béarnaise sauce recipe?

    Reducing wine and vinegar, adding butter and egg yolks.

  • How were crew members' dining experiences on the Titanic influenced by their roles and ranks?

    Varying experiences, based on roles and ranks.

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Summary

00:00

"Titanic's Gourmet Fare: Sirloin & Béarnaise"

  • The crew members aboard the RMS Titanic had simple food, but they prepared complex dishes like sirloin of beef with chateau potatoes and béarnaise.
  • Captain Smith and the ship's purser Hugh Walter McElroy dined in the first-class dining saloon, where the last meal served included sirloin of beef with chateau potatoes.
  • Auguste Escoffier's recipe for sirloin of beef with chateau potatoes suggests serving it with béarnaise sauce.
  • Making the dish involves preparing the steak, chateau potatoes, meat glaze, and béarnaise sauce, with the meat glaze being a reduced brown stock.
  • Shaping the chateau potatoes into olive-like forms is time-consuming, requiring careful cutting and carving.
  • Hellofresh offers a convenient meal kit delivery service with pre-portioned ingredients and a variety of meal options.
  • Escoffier's béarnaise sauce recipe includes white wine, tarragon vinegar, shallots, tarragon leaves, peppercorns, egg yolks, butter, cayenne pepper, and salt.
  • The béarnaise sauce preparation involves reducing the wine and vinegar, adding butter and egg yolks, and whisking until thickened.
  • Cooking the sirloin steak and chateau potatoes involves grilling the steak with butter and tarragon, and slowly cooking the potatoes in clarified butter.
  • The Titanic had over 900 crew members divided into the Deck, Engine, and Victualling Departments, with the Victualling Department overseeing food procurement, storage, and preparation for passengers and crew.

10:40

Titanic Crew Dining and Tragic Losses

  • Crew members on the Titanic had varying dining experiences based on their roles and ranks.
  • The captain and purser could dine in the first-class dining saloon or with other officers.
  • Most crew members, like those in the engineering department, had simpler meals.
  • Stewardess Violet Jessop described dining conditions on the Olympic, the Titanic's sister ship.
  • Stewards and stewardesses on the Titanic had different roles, with tips being a significant part of their income.
  • Cabin stewards were responsible for maintaining cabins and providing various services to passengers.
  • Cabin stewards had demanding schedules, working long hours every day.
  • Violet Jessop's experience during the Titanic sinking involved helping passengers and holding a baby in a lifeboat.
  • The crew of the Titanic faced tragic losses, with many perishing, and survivors facing harsh treatment from the White Star Line.
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