2008 Woodie Awards
Dinner Delight
Dante's Den
Danielle Valente
Issue date: 10/8/08 Section: Op Ed
I felt the slight vibration in my hand as I opened my phone to receive a new text message. "Dinner at six? From Caroline." Finally, after what seemed like hours of work, I took my daily stroll across the MC quad to meet my friends in front of Thomas Hall. "Can we go to Dante's tonight," my friend Kat asked when we met, "It's my favorite." As a freshman, I did not really know what the big deal was about the new Dante's Den. Was it really better than before?
According to Robert Mahon, the Vice Presdient for Facilities Management, "Dante's was renovated to increase its capacity, recognizing that the Campus resident population has significantly increased with the opening of East Hill. This is the second largest dining facility and it was particularly restricted in the number of persons it could serve."
A significant change to Thomas Hall, the new Dante's appears wider, cleaner, and a nicer environment to enjoy meals and socialize with new and old acquaintances. "You would think that since they built a wall it would be smaller," explained senior Mary Morgan, "but it actually feels a lot bigger." Not only does the dining hall feel a lot less crowded than Locke's Loft, but the décor is even better. Mary joked about the out-of-date movie stars adorning the walls of Locke's. Neither she, nor the entire MC student body will be able to find one single picture of Whoopi Goldberg or Rosie O'Donell hanging in Dante's.
About two or three years ago, Dante's first opened for dinner. Now, it is customary to find many students coming in after practice or class for a dinner consisting of paninis, quesadillas, salads, or wraps.
The wraps are the real crowd pleaser. As I sat across the table from my friend Patrick, I stared in awe of this skinny boy inhaling a sandwich bigger than himself. The quesadillas are another popular selection among MC students. Though my friend Eric has not yet realized that he cannot eat spicy foods, the quesadillas from Dante's still somehow manage to find a way onto his tray.
It seemed like the freshmen entered MC at the perfect time. In addition to a new dormitory, and new Communications classrooms and equipment, the students have a renovated place to dine. Having access to three different cafeteria locations not only enables students to choose from more selections, but it allows student to meet more people at different dining locations.
Even though I was not attending MC when the old Dante's was around I, along with many others, am pleased with the food and company that is found in Dante's Den.
According to Robert Mahon, the Vice Presdient for Facilities Management, "Dante's was renovated to increase its capacity, recognizing that the Campus resident population has significantly increased with the opening of East Hill. This is the second largest dining facility and it was particularly restricted in the number of persons it could serve."
A significant change to Thomas Hall, the new Dante's appears wider, cleaner, and a nicer environment to enjoy meals and socialize with new and old acquaintances. "You would think that since they built a wall it would be smaller," explained senior Mary Morgan, "but it actually feels a lot bigger." Not only does the dining hall feel a lot less crowded than Locke's Loft, but the décor is even better. Mary joked about the out-of-date movie stars adorning the walls of Locke's. Neither she, nor the entire MC student body will be able to find one single picture of Whoopi Goldberg or Rosie O'Donell hanging in Dante's.
About two or three years ago, Dante's first opened for dinner. Now, it is customary to find many students coming in after practice or class for a dinner consisting of paninis, quesadillas, salads, or wraps.
The wraps are the real crowd pleaser. As I sat across the table from my friend Patrick, I stared in awe of this skinny boy inhaling a sandwich bigger than himself. The quesadillas are another popular selection among MC students. Though my friend Eric has not yet realized that he cannot eat spicy foods, the quesadillas from Dante's still somehow manage to find a way onto his tray.
It seemed like the freshmen entered MC at the perfect time. In addition to a new dormitory, and new Communications classrooms and equipment, the students have a renovated place to dine. Having access to three different cafeteria locations not only enables students to choose from more selections, but it allows student to meet more people at different dining locations.
Even though I was not attending MC when the old Dante's was around I, along with many others, am pleased with the food and company that is found in Dante's Den.