Hello, how have you been? Sadly, for as the moment, no menu has been uncovered that belonged to the maids' and valets' saloon of either the Olympic or Titanic. The saloon had it's own pantry where meals would have been prepared, here they could pour themselves a cup of tea or coffee as well. During dining times a pantryman would have likely prepared the meals for them here.
In Voyage on the great Titanic : the Diary of Margaret Ann Brady, R.M.S. Titanic,. 1912 by Ellen Emerson White, there was a steward to 1st class who became friendly with a 1st class passenger whose snacks were delivered as room service. They shared extra scones one day.
This is purely conjecture in a historical fiction book, mind you. That is the neat thing about having a lack of the "cold hard facts"-- it leaves room to fill in the blanks with novels written about the event. I seem to recall reading something in another book about their servants (not just their stewards) having their own meal time/ place, but I can't remember which book I read it in (it may have been non-fiction). If I find it again, I'll write back.
Based on some more further research it appears that Mr. Giglio wasn't his manservant but more his personal assistant/secretary. I haven't seen any evidence they ate together so far.
If my memory serves right Miss Francatelli actually did eat with her employers in the á la carte restaurant on the 14th of April at their small table. However, this doesn't mean this happened every night of-course.
That's what I meant. "Franks" probably was Lucile Duff-Gordon's travel companion when the lady travelled without her husband. Being an independent businesswoman, Lucile might have done so frequently. So, if Franks ate with the couple in the a la carte restaurant on board the Titanic, it might be like I said. At times where the Duff-Gordons dined with others, she might have had her meals separately.
There wasn't just a separate area, but an entire room for all the maids' and valets' on C-deck with a pantry attached to it.
Thanks. Is there any information if the "servants" were served the same food that was on the menu for the First Class passengers who dined at the main Dining Saloon? If not, what choice did the maids and valets have?
Hello my friend, I'm sorry for my late response. I haven't found any evidence to support or debunk that the same food was served. It is possible they were served the same as the officers' in their respective mess on the boat deck.
The menu as served in the first class dining saloon on D-deck was often included in ones ticket, and indeed an additional fee had to be paid for any passenger planning to eat in the first class restaurant or cafe Parisien on B-deck. Based on that Miss Francatelli was allowed to dine with her employers on the 14th it seems that as long as someone paid for your seating you were allowed to dine in the restaurant.
Thanks. Obviously, if "Franks" or Giglio sat at the same table as their respective employers, then the latter would take responsibility for ordering food/drink and payment. But would either of those or others in similar status be allowed to eat on their own or with each other at the restaurant if their employers were not present?
