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Visiting Chefs Create Dunster, Quincy Meals

Blue and white cloth napkins, live music and delectable food might normally be associated with an expensive night on the town.

But residents of Dunster and Quincy Houses enjoyed it all last night in the comfort of their own dining halls as part of the Harvard Dining Services' Visiting Chefs series.

In a culinary special doubling as a charity event for the Greater Boston Food Bank, students were treated to a full service meal, including wine, spotlighting the specialties of two visiting chefs. Kevin Cromwell of The Pillar House in Newton Falls was featured at Dunster House, and Chris Douglass from Icarus in Boston's South End cooked at Quincy. Both chefs participated in a similar program last year.

The evening was the first in a series of dinners which will come to all the houses by the end of the year, said Michael P. Berry, director of Harvard Dining Services. The Freshman Union will not be included in the program because it is too big.

After enjoying grilled chicken with eggplant hash, followed by a dessert of white chocolate mousse cake, Dunster house attendees seemed pleased with the evening. "It was exquisite," said Yolanda LeRoy '95. "Theatmosphere, the ambience...I can't imagine itbeing more elaborate."

Students in Dunster dined to the sounds of astring quartet, composed of members of theHarvard-Radcliffe Orchestra. At Quincy House,professional jazz musicians from Icarus providedthe audio entertainment.

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Dining Services pulled out all the stops forthe occasion, and a fountain complete with Greekstatuettes graced the Quincy dining hall floor.

Quincy residents also enjoyed the evening."It's been great so far," said Lee A. Mancini '95.Some were amused by the unusual food. "Thetriangular shaped bread was great," said James S.Birge '95.

Residents in the two houses signed up for thespecial for the special meal in early December.Approximately 200 students at each house tookadvantage of the gourmet meal.

Other guests were present as well. IngeborgLock, director of Dining Services at theUniversity of New Hampshire, had dinner at DunsterHouse. "It's a very exciting, marvelous program.It's very impressive," she said.

The mood at Dunster was more serious as thepresentation to the food bank got underway. WestyEgmont, executive director of the organization,received a donation from Harvard Dining Serviceson behalf of the Pillar House.

"I love checks with a lot of zeros," said asmiling Egmont after receiving the gift fromBerry. The donation was funded by proceeds fromDining Services' for-profit operations, such asthe Greenhouse Cafe.

Upon accepting the check, Egmont made a speechin which he emphasized the widespread impact ofhunger. There is a simple solution to helping somany sick people all over the country, he said."It's a miracle drug called food."

Berry then saluted the Dining Services workersfor their dependability and commitment.

As they paraded out of the kitchen, theemployees were greeted with uproarious applausefrom students.

Berry concluded the evening by expressinggratitude to students. "We feel privileged to be apart of your life," he said

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