Luncheon at Sea.

We are another day closer to New York, this Sunday April 10, 1927, aboard SS ‘Arabic’ of the Red Star Line. We had such a fine breakfast yesterday, didn’t we? Another day of difficult decisions is upon us. What to have for lunch?

S.S.Arabic Sunday, April 10th, 1927

Luncheon Menu

HORS D’ŒUVRE

Canapés Niçoise Norwegian Brisling Croutes Ivanhoe

Rollmops Cod’s Roe

HOT

Consommé Floriale Potage Paysanne

Fried Whiting, Remoulade

Spaghetti à la Crème

Sauté of Beef Bourgignon

Roast Leg of Mutton, Onion Sauce

Mashed Turnips Dressed Cabbage

Braised Jacket, Boiled, & Saratoga Potatoes

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GRILL TO ORDER: (10 to 20 minutes)

Grilled Lamb Kidneys on Toast

COLD BUFFET

Codfish Mayonnaise

Ribs of Beef Braised Chicken Wiltshire Ham

Ox Tongue Roast Lamb & Pork

SALADS

Windsor Lettuce

SWEETS

Rusk Pudding Eccles Cakes

Ice Cream & Wafers

CHEESE

Canadian Gruyère Camembert Edam Cheshire Gorgonzola

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Biscuits          Coffee

What did you choose?

I was disappointed with the singularly uninspiring selection of ‘sweets’, although the Eccles Cakes took me back to my childhood in the north of England. Eccles Cakes are sort of currant pasties/biscuits – the local variation from the town in Lancashire of the common theme of pastry wrapped around dried fruit (as in Chorley Cakes and Banbury Cakes)

From Miss Tuxford’s Cookery for the Middle Classes (9th ed. C1920’s), I give you this recipe for these lovely pastry treats.

Eccles Cakes.

½ lb Rough Puff or Puff Pastry; 2 oz candide peel, 2 oz. raw sugar, ¼ lb currants, 1 oz butter, 1 whole egg, little nutmeg or mixed spice, if liked.
Roll out the pastry to a quarter of an inch in thickness, and cut into rounds with a plain cutter. Put the cleaned currants, chopped candied peel, sugar, and butter into a pan, and stir over the fire or stove until the butter melts. Allow the mixture to cool, and put a little upon each round of pastry. Fold over and roll into a flat cake. Brush with egg and bake quickly for 20 minutes.

Quotation for the Day.

Pastry satisfies where art is unavailable.
Anon.