The Titanic sank almost 104 years ago, but curious people continue to dive deep into interesting facts about the ship and the Titanic food. What’s also impressive (and sad) is the equality we’ve all been aiming at for the past century. However, we still haven’t fully accomplished it. However, while many things have changed, one thing remains the same: the contrast between classes.
Passengers on the Ship of Dreams were divided into first, second, and third Titanic classes. This still happens with airlines nowadays. The lower classes occupied the lower part of the ship, and the upper levels had the top part. But the big difference was the Titanic menu.
In the legendary ship, there were 5 restaurants where different classes had their meals prepared and served correspondingly. While first-class passengers were treated to luxurious dishes, the second-class passengers had pretty good food, too. Still, the third-class ones were fortunate to get three meals daily. Let’s look at the food on the Titanic for each class of passengers.
What Food Was Served on the Titanic?
The Titanic food was quite the talk of the town back then, and it’s still a hot topic now. Everyone wants to know what food was served on the Titanic for every Class of people before everything hit the ground of the Atlantic Ocean.
The legendary 2-week voyage was already prepared to cater for 2,200 people with 69 staff consisting of chefs, cooks, bakers, butchers, cashiers, and dishwashers). For more than 6,000 meals a day, there were 19 ovens, cooking tops, ranges, and roasters. It contained 75,000 pounds of meat, 11,000 pounds of fresh fish, 40,000 eggs, 7,000 heads of lettuce, 10,000 lbs of sugar, and so many more lbs and pounds of food.
Each Class had its delightful dishes, but the first-class menu truly stole the show with a combination of French and British Cuisine. Second-class passengers were happy with classic British and American dishes. Third-class passengers also had a decent menu included in their tickets.
What Did 1st Class Eat on the Titanic?
The Titanic first-class menu was the most delicious one. A list of 20 typical foods included in their price ticket (apart from what they could pay extra at Ritz restaurant in late hours):
- Oysters
- Filet Mignon
- Baked Apples
- Puffed Rice
- Grilled Ham
- Lamb Collops
- Fresh Herring
- Roast Duckling
- Vegetable Stew
- Grilled Sausage
- Smoked Salmon
- Asparagus Salad
- Buckwheat Cakes
- Oxford Marmalade
- Chicken a la Maryland
- Lamb with Mint Sauce
- Chocolate and Vanilla Éclairs
- Salmon with Mousseline Sauce
- Mashed Sauté and Jacket Potatoes
- Fried, Shirred, Poached & Boiled Eggs
Each dish was a masterpiece in itself and always different every day. We have attached a menu from the last day in Titanic restaurants for first-class passengers.
(h/t: Reddit)
First Class
What Did 2nd Class People on the Titanic Eat?
Second-class dining may not have been as extravagant as the first-class spread. However, it still offered a solid lineup of delicious dishes. Here’s a mix of all three meals for second-class passengers on the Titanic.
- Fruit
- Ice Cream
- Rolled oat
- Fresh fish
- Apple Tart
- Maple syrup
- Roast Mutton
- Tarts & Cakes
- Coconut sandwich
- Fresh Fruit Cheese
- Spaghetti au Gratin
- Tapioca Consommé
- Roast Beef with Gravy
- Curried chicken and rice
- Vienne and graham rolls
- Assorted Nuts and Cheese
- Spring lamb with mint sauce
- Grilled ox kidneys and bacon
- Baked haddock with sharp sauce
- Roast turkey with savory cranberry sauce
Second Class
What Was 3rd Class Food Like on the Titanic?
While it might not have been as extravagant as the first-class feasts, it still had its own delicious dishes. Here’s what they were mostly served on the Titanic third-class menu:
- Soup
- Fruits
- Rice soup
- Roast beef
- Cold Meat
- Fried eggs
- Marmalade
- Steamed Figs
- Cabin Biscuits
- Boiled potatoes
- Christmas pudding
- Cheese and pickles
- Fresh bread and butter
- Roast Pork with Onions
- Oatmeal porridge and milk
Simple, hearty, and satisfying - that was the vibe in third class. They might not have had the luxurious options of the upper decks, but they knew how to serve a meal that warmed their hearts.
Third Class
How Was Food Kept on Titanic?
The Titanic was practically a food ship. It was all figured out with a specialized “refrigeration plan.” This is where they kept meats, games, flowers, wines, cheeses, and fish in separate rooms and proper temperatures. Plus, a separate system ensured chilled water around every bar on board.