Dinner at Hogwart’s

Skidmore’s Dining Services outdid itself with its most recent theme dinner. An homage to Harry Potter – featuring entry via the mythical platform 9 3/4 and ending with a visit to Honey Duke’s Sweet Shop – was presented on Thursday, Nov. 15. Muggles were cordially welcomed at the event.

Dining Services Director Mark Miller gave credit for the idea to Bonnie Bertrand, assistant supervisor for catering and special events. She and her student employees spent close to a month developing a plan to weave Potter-like magic throughout the dining hall. They created the four houses of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry along with banners and assorted accessories that emphasized the theme.

Diners were urged to attend wearing the colors of Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, or Slytherin, or dressed as their favorite Potter character. Members of the Dining Services team portrayed the Hogwart’s faculty and key characters. Miller dressed as headmaster Albus Dumbledore, while Jamie Cherry, dining services supervisor, assumed the role of Harry.

The menu featured Mrs. Weasley’s buttermilk whipped potatoes, Sirius blackened Brussels sprouts, Professor Flitwick’s fish and chips with malt vinegar, Hagrid’s pumpkin patch soup, and venomous green salad, among other delights. The test kitchen became Honey Duke’s Sweet Shop, where students could select Bertie Bots and Jelly Belly Jelly Beans, molded chocolate frogs and golden snitch truffles, or make their own magic wands.

Entertainment included live music and the screening of a Harry Potter movie throughout the evening.

A total of 1,388 dinners was served during the evening to Skidmore’s students – including the Quidditch team – as well as to members of the faculty and staff and their families. Dining Services typically serves four or five theme meals each semester and this was by far one of the most popular to date.

Photos by Lauren Bosche ’15, Nghia Luu ’14, and Tasha Carter-Gordon ’15.

Posted On: 11/15/2012