Chef ahoy! Culinary ace aboard ships rides wave of popularity with a cookbook
Brockville, ON – While growing up in Brockville, Ontario, Catherine Schmuck would watch the big ships go up and down the St. Lawrence Seaway. “We would always go to Blockhouse Island as a family after church and get an ice cream, hope to see a ship pass,” Catherine said. Mainly, the ships were just part of the scenery, something to take for granted while thinking little about life on board.
But these days, Ms. Schmuck’s adventures in food are followed closely as she documents cooking for crew members on some of those ships. The popularity by fans of her blogging has inspired her to create a cookbook about her culinary adventures on ship, and also about her renowned culinary experiences ashore. The self-published book is scheduled to be released in late summer. It became available for pre-order on Tuesday, and in its first 24 hours of sales, 500 books were sold.
“I have received orders from England, Sweden, Germany, Ireland, Florida, Arkansas, Alabama, Georgia, all the states and provinces bordering the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Seaway,” Mrs. Schmuck wrote on her blog on Wednesday.
When it comes to the cooks aboard Seaway freighters and tankers, Ms. Schmuck sails above and beyond them all, according to one veteran Seaway ship captain, who is also a trainer and evaluator.
“There are cooks, and then there are cooks. And Catherine is more than just a cook,” said Capt. Duane Dempsey of Montreal-based Canada Steamship Lines Group. “Every meal that she puts out, every single meal — breakfast, lunch and supper — it has her signature on it. Every plate that goes out to each crew member on board is just a work of art.”
Open house at U.S. Coast Guard Sector Sault Ste. Marie on Friday
Sault Ste. Marie. MI – Sector Sault Ste. Marie will host an open house from 10 – 2 Friday, June 25th, for Engineers Day. The entrance will be through the gate on East Water Street. Come by and interact with Coast Guard members, vessels and equipment. Make sure to visit the CG Exchange and get your Onyx books signed by the author, Tyler Benson. At 2:00, make your way over to the George Kemp Downtown Marina to view Air Station Traverse City conduct a helicopter / rescue swimmer demo.
U.S. Coast Guard Sector Sault Ste Marie
Celebrate Ding Schoonmaker Day at National Museum of the Great Lakes
Toledo, OH – The National Museum of the Great Lakes will be holding “Ding Schoonmaker Day” on July 1, offering FREE admission to museum vessels with the purchase of museum-only admission. Ding Schoonmaker Day was developed to be both a celebration of the 10th Anniversary of the rechristening of the Col. James M. Schoonmaker Museum Ship and in honor of the late Ding Schoonmaker, the grandson of the vessel’s namesake who was instrumental in the boat’s restoration.
Please note that pre-order tickets will not be available for July 1, admission will be walk-in only. In addition, to help increase available visitor opportunities, individuals interested in remaining later can consider purchasing tickets for our after-hours History Happy Hour: Sailor Stories, an interactive experience taking place on top of the Col. James M. Schoonmaker Museum Ship the same day from 5-7:30 p.m.
Additional Information on Ding Schoonmaker Day and History Happy Hour: Sailor Stories can be found online at nmgl.org
ADMISSION: $11 Museum & Ship (Regularly $17) – Adults (18-64)
$10 Museum & Ship (Regularly $16) – Seniors (65+)
$8 Museum & Ship (Regularly $14) – Youth (6-17)
FREE – Children 5 and under
FREE – GLHS/NMGL Members
National Museum of the Great Lakes
