Cooking for the Crew | Great Lakes Now

[@GreatLakesNow]

Hey, everyone. We just wanted to clarify something. As of May of 2023, when this segment was released, there were 13 “thousand footers”-freighters that are 1,000 feet long or more-on the Great Lakes, and the Mesabi Miner is one of them. Some commenters below thought we meant the Mesabi Miner was a “thirteen-thousand footer”-or, 13,000 feet long. It definitely isn’t! It’s one of the Great Lakes’ 13 “thousand footers.” For more info about Great Lakes freighters, take a look at our stories here. 🌊🛥

[@michaelmueller2778]

And the PRT is the queen of the lakers at 1013 ft long,but i like them all.

[@charleslanders965]

Ex Royal Australian Chef. Fantastic lovey clean galley, organised and defiantly know your stuff. Great to watch!!

[@DreDesignsGLMP]

Love this... I know Sissy personally and she is not only a great cook but an attentive human being who cares for her entire crew as if they were a part of her own family... She is in demand wherever she goes... before the Miner became her permanent vessel she floated from ship to ship in Relief of permanent cooks and every ship wanted her... in the end she's where she's meant to be I think and she's excelling as only she can

[@suunto61]

She said it. She likes taking care of people. If I was an EU, would do the same.

[@timsmothers8740]

Wow ! What a phenomenal chef,cook Mother,Sister, and sailor. Seems like an all-around super person and friend. I'm sure everyone she cooks for treats her like gold, as she should be.

[@foobarmaximus3506]

I would love to hire her. I cannot afford her anymore. She's worth it!

[@HH-el8vp]

I just a less than 10 vida of Sissy and I would I die for her. BLESSED BE FATHER BLESSED BE MOTHER

[@sky.the.infinite]

@@foobarmaximus3506how much does she charge?

[@elrobo3568]

I am a retired chef and Most of my cooking was for 125 to 150 people three meals and two snacks a day. I can appreciate Sissy's work ethic and attention to her crew. I made all homemade things for my people and paid special attention to allergies, vegetarians and vegans. I love to watch everyone eat and I monitored the trash cans to see if they told me anything about the dislikes and if I noticed something wrong I would adjust it. I don't really know why I enjoy watching Sissy at 0130 but I do. Keep it up Sissy you are special and your crew knows it! You are appreciated by crew and old retired chefs.

[@Cmon-Man]

I retired and moved from Michigan 15 years ago. I miss pasties. Thanks for the memories. I’m going to try and make some. They are so good. Upper Michigan Pasties 😋

[@theherd5830]

What a lovely human being. I’m sure all those men appreciate her.

[@briggsquantum]

Kudos to the film crew and all who worked on that production - very well narrated, shot, and edited. It's a fascinating study of the ship and her crew, and of course Sissy.

[@Geraldasopko]

This was the first ship I help build at Amship in Lorain Ohio

[@ianmoonetheoriginal2025]

You see much more comradery here than you do in corporate America. These folks are the backbone of our country, keeping things running around clock. God Bless them all.

[@ms.annthrope415]

These people do the heavy lifting, do the hard work, make things work, and deliver goods that keep America running. I'm a lawyer but I always know who makes America run.

[@Cara-39]

Oh stop it. People aren't better or more real because of where they live or what they do and the contributions made by blue collar workers are no more or less necessary to the country than white collar.

[@Zzrdemon6633]

She seems so genuine and honest! A total asset to any company, I hope they realize that

[@chuckbecker4983]

Gosh, I love this. Spent 40 years at sea (6 navy, 34 merchant marine). Only made one trip on the Lakes bringing a tug from Marinette, WI to Quebec (and on to Panama and the West Coast). This brings back so many good memories. After a few years with a company you get to know enough people that it's like your "ship family". Thanks for sharing.

[@davidcox3076]

It's easy for us down in Missouri to forget about the vital freighter traffic on the Great Lakes. Big respect to people like Sissy who work hard to keep it moving.

[@dmays67]

Looks to me like this wonderful lady has found her calling. Seems like the crew get that and respect her. Great vid. :)

[@NSResponder]

A cruise ship is likely to bore me to tears, but it would be fascinating to spend a week on a freighter like this just to learn how it all works.

[@jondstewart]

A cruise ship doesn’t have food prepared with love like this lady is doing. Carnival Cruise hires food service workers, not chefs.

[@nicelady51]

What a wonderful, hard working gal and everyone loves her ❤

[@RobertJohnson-yi2mu]

I've worked on the engines for the sister ship to that one. It is pretty cool.

[@Cara-39]

​@@jondstewart And just because they're not creating the menu, they're not cooking with love or don't love their job??

[@Classicrocker6119]

I’m in Western Canada and have a huge respect for those working on Great Lakes tanker ships. What an awesome crew here. Sissy is an important team member who plays a vital role in the morale of the crew. I love the Grinch theme for Christmas!

[@thewolfethatcould8878]

Nice to meet you Sissy! This was a wonderful story and as many have said, I am sure your crew adores you. Keep up the great work!

[@joycejudd5109]

just as the kitchen is the heart of the home, truly the kitchen is the heart of any "workers camp", whether it's logging, shipping, camping, all other working business. Sissy seems to have exactly the right touch with her crew. It's wonderful!

[@dawnmazzarella7375]

Nice to see hard working people being treated very well!

[@FRanceSource]

What a lovely lady. Her spirit is priceless. Very nice story.

[@joavkof]

She clearly is up to date. What a clean galley. Food looks good.

[@edwardalexander6382]

This was a great video and brought back a flood of memories. Our Dad sailed for 45 years with US Steel and served on several different ships. He would be gone for most of the year and most of our conversations would be done by writing letters. As children, we were each allowed to take a trip with him, but most often our Mom would drive to various ports on the lakes so we could see him for a couple of hours face to face. My trip was on the Ralph H. Watson. The head cook and stewards were outstanding chefs. The meals and desserts provided were legendary and we still talk about them today. There was a dining room as well as a galley. We were served in the dining room, complete with linens and stoneware dishes. Off hours, we would frequently walk aft to grab a snack from the galley. We got the best of both worlds! It was an adventure to stroll the deck or when storms were high walk the catwalk through the hold. The crew was so generous to make us feel welcome - I think it was a great break from routine to have kids around. Hats off and a heartfelt thanks to the captains and crews of the freighters who sacrifice months away from family and friends to keep the steel industry alive. Sherry Alexander

[@4evelyn734]

This lady is amazing! The food she cooks looks amazing and how she goes about preparing it all with care is awesome. It was great to see some of the inside workings of a laker. Great video!

[@SeattleBoatdog]

I started as an ocean-going galley boy and retired after 20 years sailing and 10 years teaching cadets and military officers at the international academy level. I’ve trained a lot of Laker officers on both sides of the border. I proudly identify as a “Cook with a Masters License” She’s a “keeper”

[@Watusifarm]

I was in Duluth one January when this ship came under the bridge at 1am. The captain laid on that horn so hard it shook the soul out of me😂. It was so incredible! It’s like watching a skyscraper float past you. Can’t wait see it again

[@jamesfrommanitoba.1992]

Sissy is a special person, you are very lucky to have someone as caring and talented as her. Although I’m sure her talent is missed in the hospital she was working with sissy sure shines as a head chef.

[@bobd5197]

Great. It's 11:45 PM and now I'm hungry. Thanks. Seriously, in my next life, I think I'll be a Great Lakes sailor.

[@hellokt9101]

A high school friend was a cook on the Mississippi and Illinois Rivers transport barges. He loved his crew and his job and I loved his "what's for supper" and "where am I" posts. RIP Roy

[@djcfrompt]

I'm impressed at the bravery of running a deep fryer on a ship! I'm sure there's a procedure to safely secure it in rough weather, but I'd be anxious working around that.

[@justagirlsd3000]

Nice segment of a subject I have never thought about. Sissy’s great!

[@vannshuttleworth4738]

What a wonderful story! Cissy is The Queen!

[@remaguire]

I'm retired Navy. I kind of regret not going into the merchant service. I miss going to sea. A friend of mine, though, is 70 (!) and he just finished all the paperwork and training to go back to sea! Anyway, shipmates like Sissy are the ones who make the job fun. I'd be proud to be on her ship.

[@mattcarman1772]

My father worked on the Great Lakes steamships from about 1939 to about 1944 and was a porter and sometime a cook. I still have his seaman's discharge book that shows all the travels and ports and names of the ships. I love seeing this video. I remember him cooking at home, for the whole week, as he seemed to know how to cook for lots of people. Thanks you for this cannel and this video

[@jaynorris3722]

What an awesome lady!!!

[@jaybeauvais4311]

Wow she is fantastic!

[@amfwelsh]

This was great to see. Great cook and great crew

[@WhatWeDoChannel]

My wife and I both really enjoyed watching this! My wife was thinking up things she would feed the crew!

[@SkullJelly]

When I was a kid (in my 50's now) one of the iron ore ships was in the Port of Milwaukee. A couple from Florida were care takers, no clue why. But we walked up these long steps and rang the bell. The let us come on the ship and showed us around. One of the coolest things I've ever seen in my life. Those ships are huge and for us didn't look like much until you are onboard.

[@debrasternhagen6598]

Sissy you are dooing Gods work!! What a sweet person.

[@btw500]

Extraordinarily and exceptionally well done.

[@B1900pilot]

It’s very hard work in the galley aboard any ship. Food, mail, rest are so important for morale…Sissy is a huge part of the overall efficiency of her ship.

[@Ibuki01]

Thanks for sharing! (Definitely an upbeat change from some of the Great Lake storm vids I've seen lately!)

[@media1groupDC]

Chef ur amazing! Great person! God bless!

[@dorismehlberg1161]

She is a treasure to the crew on the Miner. Nice story. My un le was a cook on a Merchant Marine vessel in WWII.

[@RobertMattison-pp6uf]

You are in my opinion you are one the angles that lives among us.

[@Alsafetyblog1]

Thank you for the post. Growing up I had cousins that worked on the rivers in Pittsburgh. Keep up the good work!

[@mattsrollingworld1081]

Sissy, Jambalaya is an awesome way to clean out the fridge on a Sunday. Cooked chicken, Bacon, Veggies, All go in. Cholula Hot Sauce. That boat is lucky to have you.

[@RJ1999x]

I was fortunate enough to be invited for supper on the SS Arthur Anderson, and it was magnificent

[@dadigan5117]

This is excellent ... thanks and YAY! Sissy.

[@colinmorgan7771]

i worked on the ss meldrum bay for Quebec and Ontario shipping way back in the day and the cooks were absolutely FANTASTIC later i joined the mv ontadoc coastal freighter same company and again the cooks really took care of the crew. Salute to all the Laker crews out there especially if your on self destroyers (Lakers with Booms)

[@haitolawrence5986]

Remarkable Lady!

[@tfalkon1501]

What a wonderful person. God bless you!

[@bborjd]

Worked on Canadian lake boats in the 80s. Cook makes or breaks a boat! She's awesome!!

[@BenjimanBenjiman-df3fs]

❤ saying hello from Chicago Illinois USA 💯

[@ATSFSuperChief]

Good food on a seagoing vessel is enormous, as I sailed from 1968 to 1992 and the food made the difference. Good to great food improved every bodies mood and increased productively.

[@vinkerdoodles]

This was a really cool video to watch, Thanks GLN!

[@John-or4mn]

Spent 38 years in the USN until i retired as I managed galley operations on Nimitz class aircraft carriers and the Goerge HW Bush class aircraft carrier. serving meals on a pitching moving deck and stocking supplies, it was a grueling job, I salute the men and women that serve in the USN which inspired me to serve some of the best Navy Chow that i prepared over my long career.

[@KennyInSubic]

38 years shipmate?

[@craigcooknf]

That's good reality tv right there. Beautiful and loving people!

[@anthonyfoutch3152]

In the 70s I made a couple trips on a river boat barge on the TN MS and Ohio mostly. When we ate we set at the table and bowls of food were set on the table. We ate family style good southern cooking. I worked my ass off so i probably ate 6,000 calories a day .

[@Aluminati1]

I hope she knows how truly valued she is. Shit, I'm thankful and I'm not even a sailor.

[@davidcole333]

That woman has a heart of gold. Priceless.

[@Jipper1984]

Cool story. Stellar Stewart:)

[@gettingold59]

VERY WELL DONE

[@andrewmarshall360]

Look’s really good !

[@derbelgischefrank]

top cook team...

[@foobarmaximus3506]

God bless this woman. For realzies.

[@eltanko178]

makes me hungry watching

[@Whocares.........]

Well done! Great video!😊

[@carolinagoldbug983]

Culinary adeptness is important, but so is 'attitude'. And she's got it. 👍

[@c.h.ingate5271]

Way back in the early 1960's my cousin, who resided in the Detroit area, worked on the Great Lakes freighters. My family lived near Buffalo. One time when my cousin was at the Buffalo port, my family put on a cook out with hot dogs and such. My cousin loved it. He related that the food on the ship was always pretty fancy so a simple hot dog was special for him!

[@raymorley8241]

you are quite amazing Sissy

[@heartstrummer]

Very impressive

[@mikeomaly]

The green eggs and ham! That's cool! Just that little extra makes all the difference!

[@dread550]

Wow she’s amazing !!!

[@williamwells1862]

Wow. Watt a dedicated worker.

[@PedroPetracco]

5:35 snack fridge looks fire!!

[@Horsewomann]

Very cool! You should do a story about St. Joughnuts and the special program the Harbormaster started to treat the smaller freighters that visit his Harbor. They usually don’t have a dedicated cook like Sissy.

[@rkgaustin]

I knew I should have joined the Navy.

[@johndemeen5575]

Vanilla Fudge, my favorite rock band ever. St.Paul,Minnesota.

[@carlnash7200]

This is a great human being

[@jefffromjersey52]

Very Nice.... Love her Attitude .. A Nice hot Meal and a Friendly Smile , certainly will boost Morale for sure ..

[@MSkallywagg]

She is a legend and cool as fook

[@Theresa-cc7ei]

You are awesome

[@PedroPetracco]

4:10 Tell me you're a picky eater without telling me you're a picky eater. . . . "Some of the things are more eclectic than others, but there's always a variety"

[@dennismoro-p2k]

Been looking for this type video for quite awhile. had an uncle who was a cook on the "ore boats". i knew that crew ate well. now i have the munchies! thanks. well done.

[@kenbrown5449]

Having spent a good bit of time at sea over the course of my career, I can agree that the food and chefs play a huge part in moral and quality of life while afloat. Looked like a great ship to work on.

[@papabits5721]

I would go down to Cherry STREET in Toronto to visit my older brother, and the cook would always invite me for lunch

[@jdweld44]

Nice galley, looks like fun work!

[@haitolawrence5986]

Hard work is often the most fun and rewarding oddly enough!

[@suunto61]

They are awesome!!!!

[@patrickfurlong9169]

When I was in the Navy they had a thing called mid rats. Midnight meal for watch rotations. Usually left overs, burgers or hotdogs.

[@winstonwilliams4859]

a couple times in my time at sea ( 20years)I had to cook for 24 crew ,but no fancy stuff as I was also the ships electrician and engine room crew

[@joelmelissam]

Sissy looks like she's a treasure. You can feel that she cares about the people she's looking after.

[@guybeingaguy]

I’m a 59 y/o lifetime bachelor. Since age 16, maybe 2 home cooked meals a year, one probably thanksgiving at a bar somewhere. Always fast food, convince store or pre-made meal stuff at Publix, hot dogs, sandwiches etc. These guys got it damn good !!!!! 👍

[@nicelady51]

Dude, why don’t you prepare some food for yourself? I’m single and don’t enjoy eating out much because the food is so much better at home. Healthier, too! It just gets lonely eating alone, but most people’s manners are horrendous and makes eating out unpleasant. Men don’t remove their hats and show respect for anyone they dine with. I’ve seen a few that do, and put their hat on the table. Just disgusting 🤢

[@SeanGTM]

​@@nicelady51The refusal to remove caps when inside dining is one of my biggest pet peeves. My 20 year old daughter doesn't get why it's considered rude and disrespectful. Different times.

[@nicelady51]

@@SeanGTM I know you’re right, but Miss Manners can’t change her 66 yr old ways 🫣

[@peejay815]

My son is 27 & cooks for himself several nights a week. It’s never too late to learn & it’s not difficult.

[@arpadcsorba2053]

8:30 That's a good looking sandwich. I don't what is is but I'd eat 2 for sure.

[@flipperfryer]

She is one of a Kind

[@deanmartian3846]

Geez, that better than I eat, for sure. Can I stowaway?

[@DrSammyMunchkin]

Fabulous woman. ✌

[@williamwells1862]

Beyond real.

[@KennyInSubic]

Nothing like the Navy.

[@NSResponder]

My grandfather was a cook on clipper ships around the end of the 19th century. I wonder what he'd think of a modern galley like this.

[@nicolenew1708]

❤❤❤