Zorn Dining Commons serve the Keene State College campus in annual ‘Family Dinner’

Shannon Flynn

Equinox Staff

Keene State College Zorn Dining Commons staff put in a lot of time and effort to bring the annual “Family Dinner” on Appian Way to the students of KSC.

“It’s extremely difficult, but the staff has it down to a science,” Josef Quirinale said, the general manager of the dining commons and Sodexo.

Quirinale and his staff of 52 have put on the dinner for students for the last seven years. According to Quirinale, it was originally called the “Family Meal.”
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The idea of having a family dinner on Appian Way first came about during a meeting between the dining commons staff and the L.P. Young Student Center Staff.

“It was really the brain-child of the student center staff,” Quirinale said. He continued and said the student center staff wanted to continue the community feeling that is present at the resource fair that takes place during the day.

Many KSC students agreed both the student center and dining commons staff do a great job at creating this atmosphere.  Maddie Murphy, Jenny French, and Jessica Baker, all KSC freshmen, said the Family Dinner was assembled really well.

“It’s delicious, and very well put together,” Murphy said.

What helped contribute to the community-like feel was the set-up of the dinner. Originally, Family Dinner was set up as one long row of tables and chairs running all up and down Appian Way.

“Quite honestly, my first year here I was amazed to see that many people sitting in one place at one time, and that many tables went on for miles,” Quirinale said.

This year, the set-up was a little different.

Instead of one long row of tables, staff set up tables in more of a group form. There were a few tables placed together as one group with another few just steps away.

Every table was served food by one of Quirinale’s staff members. He had 25 staff members running from table to table serving the food, and 32 more staff members working behind the scenes.

Jenny French, a freshman, commented on the staff’s service and said, “They brought everything to your seats. It was really nice.”

According to Quirinale, the old set up was “a nightmare” for his staff to serve because they were constantly running around. The new system seemed to work out better for everyone.

Another aspect of the Family Dinner that creates a sense of community is the food. This year’s menu consisted of: lasagna, vegetarian pasta, garlic bread, Caesar salad. And for dessert, cannolis and Italian ice.

Although it seems almost impossible, the dinner was not catered.  “We are the caterers,” Quirinale said.

The only items not made by the cooks at the dining commons are the cannoli filling and its shells.

Those are purchased separately, but filled during the meal.“Everything is assembled there,” Quirinale said.

This helps explain why there are never any leftovers after the dinner has ended. Quirinale explained the staff uses a “just in time” style of cooking.

This means everything is made as it is needed.

Normally the dining commons staff serves up approximately 6,000 meals a day.

This means it takes a lot of food to feed all 5,000 Undergraduates at one time.

According to Quirinale, his staff made 273 half pans of lasagna, which turned into 3,276 portions. Approximately 2,000 Italian ices were handed out, and they filled 3,800 cannolis.

Staff also used 40 cases of romaine lettuce, 28 gallons of Caesar dressing, and 1,050 loaves of bread.

Lastly, D.C. staff made 1200 portions of  vegetarian pasta.

Quirinale explaned it took several meetings over the course of a month to start the planning process for the dinner.

Throughout these meetings Quirinale and the student center staff planned everything from the orders to how the grounds will look.

It also took them several days to assemble all the tables and chairs before the big day.

On the day of the dinner, the staff started their preparation at 10 a.m. The dinner started at 4 p.m. when the fair ended and lasted until 8 p.m.

Quirinale made sure it lasted four hours so students with classes have time to come and enjoy the meal as well.

As soon as the last of the students finished eating the staff began their clean up. They generally do not finish this until 10 p.m. Quirinale said.

Quirinale reacted and said he was “very pleased” with the turnout this year and looks forward to next year’s Family Dinner on Appian Way.

Shannon Flynn can be contacted at

sflynn@keene-equinox.com