Students rate McDaniel’s Thanksgiving feast second only to Mom’s

To all those who will rise before dawn on Thanksgiving morn to begin preparations for the annual family feast, know that McDaniel students are still most thankful for your roast turkey, gravy, candied sweet potatoes and the obligatory green-bean casserole.

But coming in a close second is the delectable spread offered Nov. 15 in the newly renovated Englar Dining Hall.

Was it better than Mom’s?

“That would be pushing it,” said senior Bill Gerdes (above left) of Freehold, N.J., as he loaded seconds onto his plate.

“But it’s almost there,” said sophomore Joe Odierno (above right) of Annapolis, as he ladled gravy onto his second helping of mashed potatoes and candied yams.

Favorites are pumpkin pie for sophomore Danny Scott and sauerkraut for junior Ashley Hopkins, both of Baltimore, who were among the 954 guests who enjoyed the early Thanksgiving feast.

If your shopping list is staggering, take a peek at what the college’s food service, Sodexo, served:

Roasted Turkey………..  40 or 350 lbs.
Prime Rib…………………..    500 lbs.
Green Bean Casserole……...    100 lbs.
Mac & Cheese……………...   375 lbs.
Candied Yams………………   175 lbs.
Stuffing……………………...   250 lbs.
Sauerkraut…………………...    35 lbs.
Mashed Potatoes…………….  250 lbs.
Turkey Gravy………………..   20 gals

And then there’s dessert: 1,308 servings of pumpkin pie, chocolate cake, cheesecake and apple pie.