Food for Thought

Greetings from the Museum! I hope that you and your family are well and staying safe. 

During these uncertain times, if you are like me, perhaps you've been thinking a lot about food lately. Where to buy it, when to get it, how to prepare it, who has food, who needs food, and how we are all going to stay healthy and nourished as we hunker down in close quarters.

Once again, USS Constitution offers useful lessons. The crew that sailed her to three legendary victories during the War of 1812 and an overall undefeated record was nourished by food that was, shall we say, less than tasty by today's standards.

Samuel Leech, an American sailor during the War of 1812, described a sailor's meal: "Their 'fare'... was composed of hard sea biscuit, fresh beef while in port, but salt pork and salt beef at sea, pea soup and burgoo...or, as it was sportively called, skillagallee, which was oatmeal boiled in water to the consistency of hasty pudding."

Such fare was consumed in tight quarters, perhaps familiar to those of us under quarantine. Leech wrote that the crew was divided into "little communities of about eight, called 'messes.' These eat and drink together, and are, as it were, so many families." But, like families, messes were not without discord. Leech found one messmate to be especially troublesome, and he changed messes to escape him.

Today we can't switch out our messes to avoid family members! Nor do we need to soak our hard sea biscuits and salt pork in water to render them edible. But I know we are all doing what we can to provide food for our families, to give sustenance to healthcare workers, first responders, and those who work in essential industries, and to give a hand to neighbors in need. 

USS Constitution is an undefeated legend precisely because her crew found ways to live together, work together, and accomplish unexpected triumphs together. The crew's food provides a window to their lives, and a mirror to ours.

Let us know how you are inspired to cook and bake these days. Please share your show-stopping bread and other sailor-inspired recipes with us using the hashtag #USSCMbakeoff. From ship's biscuits to plum duff, it will be a delicious week of content and baked goods. We will share our favorites with you in next week's newsletter. 

Until then, ready, set, bake!

Cheers,

Anne Grimes Rand
President and CEO
USS Constitution Museum

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Thank you for your continued support of the USS Constitution Museum’s commitment to preserve and to tell the inspiring stories of “Old Ironsides” - most recently through the many programs in our Virtual Museum.  Gifts of any size to our Annual Fund help us continue to achieve our mission in these challenging times. Please consider supporting the Museum here.

Many worthwhile organizations seek support to help those in need get through this challenging time.  Active duty service members, veterans, first responders and health care workers and their families who are affected by COVID-19 are among those whom the Museum is thinking about.  Our colleagues at Operation Gratitude are raising funds to say “Thank You” to all who serve - click here to donate.