FOX FANTASTIC: Nothing like sitting down on the stage of the darkened Fox Theatre in the middle of a dreary day to sample the delicacies that will be offered at the "Last Dinner on the Titanic" in April.
This is what makes it still fun to be a reporter despite the industry pessimism, hand-wringing and financial woes.
But to listen to Fox proprietor Mary Strauss peel off dates and figures and juicy details about the ship's passengers while sipping a nice Riesling and dining on poached salmon with a shredded cucumber and dill relish ... well, it's pretty hard to beat, in this scribe's opinion.
The media preview included a taste of the 11-course meal Strauss plans to present on the theater's stage April 14 as part of the Titanic Centennial Weekend, which she has spearheaded in conjunction with the 100th anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic.
"People ask me, 'Why a Titanic weekend in St. Louis?' and I say, ‘Why not?'," said Strauss, who has a background as an art historian and has been researching the Titanic for decades.
Strauss said the swells on the ship, who made up only a fraction of the passengers, spent three or four hours at a meal and occupied most of the rest of their time getting dressed for the next meal.
Chef Stephen Proctor, who is with the Fox special events team, said he studied books and writings from the time to put together as authentic a menu as possible. He said much of what he prepared — and what will be served at the "Last Dinner on the Titanic" — was done in the style of the great French chef, Escoffier.
Coincidentally, the chef on the Titanic was Charles Proctor (no one said if he and Stephen were related), and today was Stephen's birthday. Just one more tidbit to add to the collection of eerie stories about the Titanic.
Strauss and Thom Johnson, also with Fox special events, said the last dinner will be one of the most authentic and large-scale re-creations of the last first class meal on board the ship that has ever been presented.
Strauss said she has gotten inquiries from around the world about the dinner and expects to attract a group from the Titanic Historical Society, which is the largest of its kind.
Click here for details about the dinner and other Titanic Centennial Weekend events, or call 314-657-5033.
