There’s a cornucopia full of numbers surrounding the annual Thanksgiving meal the Saint John’s University dining staff puts on for Johnnies and Bennies.
But perhaps the most impressive is 43.
That’s how many years the event – which is traditionally held the week before Thanksgiving break – has now been held.
This year’s meal was served Wednesday (Nov. 20) as students line up outside Guild Hall in the snow, awaiting their turn to go through the buffet line and enjoy a meal with their friends while perhaps stopping by the photo booth (new this year) for a commemorative portrait.
(A holiday meal at the College of Saint Benedict is traditionally served to CSB and SJU students in December. This year’s event is scheduled for Thursday, Dec. 5).
“It’s a tradition here,” Saint John’s University executive chef/culinary manager Art Martinez said. “We want to provide a family-style meal for the students. It’s something they seem to enjoy and expect from us every year.
“We want to keep this going as long as we can so each new generation of students can experience it.”
In all, Martinez and his staff prepared around 770 pounds of turkey for Wednesday’s meal. That was to go along with:
- 600 pounds of mashed potatoes
- 400 pounds of green beans
- 350 pounds of stuffing
- 30 gallons of turkey gravy
- Four gallons of cranberry sauce
- 120 dozen dinner rolls
- 120 pumpkin pies
- 60 pecan pies
Martinez said a group of around 40 people, between staff and volunteers, worked to make it possible to serve dinner to what was expected to be around 1,400 students.
That group included Saint John’s senior Sam Rabaey, who said events like the Thanksgiving meal help him feel more connected to family members who have come through the school in the past.
“My dad went to Saint John’s,” said Rabaey, a physics and math major. “My older brother went to Saint John’s. It’s kind of cool to feel like I’m a part of traditions my dad was taking part in 30 years ago. I’ll come home at Thanksgiving break, and he’ll ask me how the Thanksgiving dinner was.
“It gives us memories to share.”
College of Saint Benedict senior Ella Klein said the Thanksgiving dinner at SJU and the holiday dinner at CSB are also bonding experiences.
Which may represent the most important number of all … one. As in one campus community.
“I think it’s really cool,” said Klein, a biology major. “It’s fun to see everybody brought together. It’s a common ground that everyone on our campuses is excited to share.
