A menu from the luncheon marking the launch of Titanic at the Grand Central Hotel in Belfast on May 31, 1911 will be sold at Bonhams on September 26. It is from the lunch for Harland and Wolfe shipyard officials and guests. Lord Pirrie, chairman of Harland and Wolfe, entertained Bruce Ismay, chairman and md of White Star Line and other VIP guests at the shipyard. The press had a separate meal also at the Grand Central Hotel.
The 12 course lunch included eggs stuffed with foie gras, turtle soup, fried sole, York Ham, Sussex Capon and asparagus washed down with vintage claret and champagne. It also featured a favourite palate cleanser of the day – Ponche at la Romaine – a thick punch made from lemon water ice, meringue, champagne and rum. This was on the menu in First Class on the Titanic on April 14, 1912, the evening it sank. It comes under the hammer at Bonhams Marine Sale in Knightsbridge and is estimated at £10,000-15,000. UPDATE: IT MADE £12,500 INCLUDING PREMIUM.
