Formal Dinner

---

Let me start off by saying that Formal Dinner is the most exciting thing that can happen in a dining hall. If you ask "How is this night different from all other nights?" the answer is, much like the Passover seder's response, fourfold:


• On this night you must sign up to attend dinner and may bring a date, making it exclusive
• On this night everyone dresses nicely and looks moderately attractive, on other nights the only assurance is that people are dressed
• On this night the food is good and served to you in 3 courses, on all other nights you yourself retrieve 2.5 lbs of pasta (few choices, large servings!) (meaning it also costs more $ but who really cares, our parents pay it anyway...)
• It's more than kinda like Harry Potter


You dress up and arrive at 7 sharp (I arrived at 7:05 but I looked VERY sharp so I think this was okay). First you ascend the spirling stone staircase to the main hall. Ususally brash with flourescent light, the hall is different on this night: the gentle caress of candelight awakens some past magnificence and the old room seems to glow with a modest pride.

Many people wear goofy - looking things on their shoulders called "gowns". They are various designs of funny black mantles and as far as I can tell do little more than perpetuate old English social hierarchies ("Commoner" robes, really?).

The faculty walk in and everyone keeps talking. Then they bang a gavel and scare the s*** out of everyone and you're supposed to just stand promptly which we all did. Then some man with a voice that's as stern as the gavel says "The Grace" in Latin so that that nobody understands (though, upon reflection, I bet a lot of these good scholars do so I should just say that I personally don't understand) and then you can start and eat.

Eating, as I said, is a 3 course affair. The carrot and fennel soup had a distinct flavor profile, nicely enhanced by crispy pieces of fennel that added some crunch to contrast with the pleasing smoothness of the soup.

The entree was a hunk of pig flesh from I don't know where on the pig cooked I don't know how. I could not discern which parts were meant to be eaten. It was upsetting. I was considering getting graphic here, but there could be young children reading or adults with queasy stomaches and I'd hate to be the cause of upheaval.

My friend Alex brought wine which was very nice. Alex is a funny fellow because he, much like a mature adult, always buys everyone a round or picks up a six-pack or grabs a bottle of wine while everyone else just says "thanks man!" and never gets him back (lack of funds mixed with a lack of social grace, I expect. sad combo.)

Dessert totally restored my faith in the University chefs and reaffirmed my love of everything chocolate. There was a yummy banana ice-cream and a rich chocolate brownie paired on the plate. Simple and delicious.

The faculty waits until everyone is full and in a digestive lull to one again bang s*** and startle you into standing and speak more Latin. Then I awkwardly muttered "cool" and started to sit but then I realized you're supposed to stand as the teachers exit, which I did.

After dinner, we all went to the pub and I bought a cider and then we played Mario Kart. The End.

---

Comments

[Francine Klein]

Civilized Behavior
Dearest Alison, I'm delighted that that the British have put the finishing touch on making you civilized (3 course formal dinner). As you recall, I defined that as my goal when you were in fourth grade. Having said that, I take umbridge at the comparison with Passover. No where in the Haggadah (story of Passover) is anything written in Latin. I hope that you remember that the only "foreign language" is Hebrew and we talk a lot about Moses. It doesn't sound like they talked about Moses. I hope that you are not considering conversion to the Anglican church. They did wear robes, right?? If so, you must come home immediately for Passover to be further indoctrinated!! Love you always and miss you always, and can't wait to see you always. MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM