Wausau writer's book about food and drink on Titanic released as paperback | Wisconsin Lit
Lit Wisconsin is a sporadic series of stories in which we highlight the work of writers of Wisconsin or those with ties to the state.
Today we highlight Veronica Hinke, author of "The Last Night on the Titanic: Unsinkable Drinking, Dining and Style."
About the book, "The Last Night on the Titanic"
"The Last Night on the Titanic: Unsinkable Drinking, Dining and Style," is a detailed, multi-layered book that delves into the story of the doomed ocean liner using food and drink as a hook. The book is peppered with anecdotes, profiles of passengers and menus of the food they ate the cocktails they drank, often accompanied by recipes.
First-class passengers were served sumptuous, multi-course meals that featured a lot of meat and rich sauces, such as chicken and wild mushroom vol-au-vents (a puffy type of pastry); duck with carrot and vanilla puree; and roasted lamb shanks with champ (a spring onion mash). Desserts included baked Alaska, French vanilla ice cream and peaches in chartreuse jelly.
The food in the lower levels of the ship was nowhere near as extravagant, but hardy and tasty nonetheless. "Midday dinner in third class on the last day on the Titanic was rice soup, fresh bread, biscuits, stewed beef with gravy, sweet corn and boiled potatoes, followed by plum pudding, sweet sauce, and fruit," Hinke writes.
One of the many passengers the book profiles is a Merrill man known as Popcorn Dan, Dan Coxon. Coxon sold peanuts and popcorn from a horse-drawn wagon, and a native of England. He returned to his homeland to visit family and learn more about movie theaters; his intention was to open one when he returned to Merrill.
The book came out in 2019, but it's getting a new wave of attention because it is now out in paperback, costing $17.99 as opposed to $47.99 for the hardcover. "What I'm so happy about is that with the lower price, maybe these stories can be available to more people," Hinke said.
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About the author, Veronica Hinke
The story of the Titanic has gripped Hinke, who lives in Weston and is the public affairs officer for the Chequamegaon-Nicolet National Forest, ever since she was in junior high school in Wausau. Her teacher read "A Night to Remember," a book about the sinking of the great ship. Hinke would graduate from Wausau West High School in 1985, earn a journalism degree from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire and become a food and drink writer in the Chicago area.
In 2012, the seed of the book "The Last Night on the Titanic" was planted when she wrote a story for the magazine Wine Enthusiast called "Titanic Cocktails." After the piece was published, a Washington, D.C., book publisher recruited her to write the book.
The sales of the book have been better than she expected. "What has been even better was being able to experience the community of Titanic enthusiasts," she said. "That's been beyond whatever I imagined. What an enjoyable experience that has been."
With the release of the paperback version of "Last Night," Hinke continues her connection with readers.
▶ She'll talk about "Central Wisconsin Ties to the Titanic," a presentation focusing on Dan Coxon, from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, April 15, at the Merrill Historical Society, 100 E. Third St., Merrill. The event is free and no registration is required.
▶ Hinke will be presenting an online seminar about the dining, drinking and the immigrant experience aboard the Titanic from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. on Friday, April 14, and on Friday, April 21. Featured in the New York Times, The seminar is being held through the 92nd Y in New York City. The cost is $80 and the link to register is https://roundtable.org/class/course/drinking-dining-and-style-aboard-the-titanic.
To buy "The Last Night on the Titanic"
The soft-cover version of the book is $17.99 and it's available in the bricks-and-mortar Janke Book Store in downtown Wausau. Call other retailers to find out if it is available. The book also can be ordered online at Amazon.com, BarnesAndNoble.com and other outlets.
Features reporter Keith Uhlig is based in Wausau. Contact him at 715-845-0651 or kuhlig@gannett.com. Follow him at @UhligK on Twitter and Instagram or on Facebook.
This article originally appeared on Wausau Daily Herald: Titanic food, drink book from Wausau writer released on paperback
