• Home
  • News
    • Global Operations
      • Asia
      • Africa
      • Europe
      • Latin America
      • Middle East
      • North America
    • Industry
      • Asia
      • Africa
      • Europe
      • Latin America
      • Middle East
      • North America
      • Oceana
    • Special Interest
      • Asia
      • Africa
      • Europe
      • Latin America
      • Middle East
      • North America
      • Oceana
  • Market
    • Coming Soon
  • Intelligence
    • Job Board
    • Events
    • Contract Awards
    • USMC Deception Manual
  • Resources
    • Contact Us
    • About Us
    • Editorial Policy
    • Privacy Policy
  • Home
  • News
    • Global Operations
      • Asia
      • Africa
      • Europe
      • Latin America
      • Middle East
      • North America
    • Industry
      • Asia
      • Africa
      • Europe
      • Latin America
      • Middle East
      • North America
      • Oceana
    • Special Interest
      • Asia
      • Africa
      • Europe
      • Latin America
      • Middle East
      • North America
      • Oceana
  • Market
    • Coming Soon
  • Intelligence
    • Job Board
    • Events
    • Contract Awards
    • USMC Deception Manual
  • Resources
    • Contact Us
    • About Us
    • Editorial Policy
    • Privacy Policy
Login
Join Free
Home
Asia
Africa
Europe
Latin America
Middle East
North America
Asia
Africa
Europe
Latin America
Middle East
North America
Asia
Africa
Europe
Latin America
Middle East
North America
Coming Soon
Job Board
Events
Contact Awards
USMC Deception Manual
Login
Join Free
Home Uncategorized

How Shipboard Food Transformed Over Centuries

Gastro Obscura investigates the historical journey of seafaring cuisine from the era of Columbus to the luxury of the Titanic, with insights from Simon Spalding.

  • Editor Staff
  • July 24, 2023
Abstract, blurry, bokeh background, image for the background. A cook on a ship preparing food in a large cauldron
(Shutterstock / Photo Contributor Fishman64)
Share on FacebookShare on TwitterLinkedIn

Gastro Obscura investigates the historical journey of seafaring cuisine from the era of Columbus to the luxury of the Titanic, with insights from Simon Spalding, author of “Food at Sea: Shipboard Cuisine from Ancient to Modern Times.” Spanning from humble pots of gruel and rat meals to extravagant cruise ship feasts, onboard food has played a crucial role in human exploration, warfare, immigration, and trade, impacting the distance and survival of voyagers.
  

Key Points: 

  1. Early voyagers like Columbus and Magellan dealt with poor dietary conditions onboard. Rations of hardtack, worm-ridden biscuits, and other provisions were common. Extreme cases had the crew resorting to eating rats.
  2. Food at sea evolved over centuries, reflecting the economic and cultural conditions of the time. For example, in the 13th-century Catalan-Aragonese fleet, the men received biscotti-like biscuits and a cooked mixture of garbanzo beans, onions, and a tiny bit of meat.
  3. The food situation on immigrant ships in the mid-19th century was challenging. Passengers were expected to bring their own food, and families had to compete for access to a single stove that was only allowed to be used during fair weather and daylight hours.
  4. By the 1880s, steamships had improved significantly in efficiency. On these ships, all food was prepared centrally, served to the passengers, and included in the ticket price, making the voyages less challenging.
  5. During the time of luxury ocean liners like the Titanic, class divisions were reflected in meal offerings. First- and second-class meals came from the same galley, with more extravagant ingredients for the higher class. The third class, however, was the more profitable due to its larger size, with hearty fare being offered to them.

 

Source: https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/eat-like-vikings-and-other-ancient-seafarers 

Editor Staff

Editor Staff

The Editor Staff at SOFX comprises a diverse, global team of dedicated staff writers and skilled freelancers. Together, they form the backbone of our reporting and content creation.

Subscribe
Login
Notify of
Please login to comment
0 Comments
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
ADVERTISEMENT

Trending News

Israel Hits Centrifuge Facility and Missile Sites in Tehran Amid Ongoing Air Campaign

Israel Hits Centrifuge Facility and Missile Sites in Tehran Amid Ongoing Air Campaign

by Editor Staff
June 19, 2025
0

Israeli fighter jets struck key nuclear and military sites across Iran, including a centrifuge production facility in Tehran that Israeli...

Israeli Airstrike Targets Iranian State Television During Live Broadcast

Israeli Airstrike Targets Iranian State Television During Live Broadcast

by Editor Staff
June 17, 2025
0

An Israeli airstrike hit the building housing Iran’s state-run television during a live news broadcast on Monday, as the war...

Mossad Executed Massive Covert Operation to Paralyze Iran’s Air Defenses and Missile Capabilities

Mossad Executed Massive Covert Operation to Paralyze Iran’s Air Defenses and Missile Capabilities

by Editor Staff
June 16, 2025
0

Note: This report was last updated as of 4 p.m. EDT, June 13, 2025. Things are still actively unfolding. For...

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Next Post
Ancient books on a ruined old table still life, literacy and wisdom concept

Finding Productivity in Ancient Wisdom

Businessman jumping from old computer to new laptop

The Internet Evolution - From Democracy to Disarray

997 Morrison Dr. Suite 200, Charleston, SC 29403

News

  • Global Operations
  • Special Interest
  • Industry
  • Global Operations
  • Special Interest
  • Industry

Services

  • Membership Page
  • Merchandise
  • Recruiting
  • Membership Page
  • Merchandise
  • Recruiting

Resources

  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Editorial Policy
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Editorial Policy
  • Privacy Policy
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
    • Global Operations
      • Asia
      • Africa
      • Europe
      • Latin America
      • Middle East
      • North America
    • Industry
      • Asia
      • Africa
      • Europe
      • Latin America
      • Middle East
      • North America
      • Oceana
    • Special Interest
      • Asia
      • Africa
      • Europe
      • Latin America
      • Middle East
      • North America
      • Oceana
  • Market
    • Coming Soon
  • Intelligence
    • Job Board
    • Events
    • Contract Awards
    • USMC Deception Manual
  • Resources
    • Contact Us
    • About Us
    • Editorial Policy
    • Privacy Policy
Subscribe
This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy.

Log in to your account

Lost your password?
wpDiscuz