350 Diners Crowd "Newest Trattoria" - Central's Pasta Night

by Jenny Moskowitz

(November 6, 2006) Imagine: You enter an elementary school to find its cafeteria converted into an Italian Trattoria. Immediately, you are greeted by smiling fifth graders who confirm the order you have placed in advance. Then you are escorted to a room with rows of long tables covered with red cloths lined with long strips of white paper ready to be decorated by colorful crayolas. Baskets of bread, pitchers of drinks and fresh flowers flowing from tomato cans complete your table. The aroma of marinara sauce fills the air. The wait staff, ten-year-olds in black and white, bring you your dinner.

This was no imaginary tableau, but the actual scene at Central School’s Pasta Night on Thursday, November 2nd.

Nearly 350 diners were accommodated at two different seatings. Roughly 120 families participated from the Central community. There were 32 parent volunteers who helped organize and Central families made or donated 15 trays of baked ziti, 40 pounds of penne, homemade sauce, water, and freshly baked desserts. A highlight of the evening was the marinara sauce made from scratch with real tomatoes by fifth grade teacher Lucy Platti. There were numerous requests for more sauce to use as a spread for the bread.

This was the second Pasta Night at Central School to raise funds for class trips. Each year, the fifth grade takes several outings, including day trips to Ellis Island, Constitution Works or the Buehler Space Center, and a two-night stay at Nature’s classroom. To be sure the trips are affordable for every student, a group of parents organize the annual fundraiser. Thursday night’s efforts brought in over $3,000.

The “magic of the night” came from the energetic wait staff who also provided musical entertainment. When they weren’t busy waiting on tables, they played musical instruments or sang songs. The children were guided and organized by their own fifth grade teachers, who gave many hours to make the night possible.

In Zagat, Pasta Night might read something like this: ”You might think you were in Florence, but you’re actually in Central School, where excellent food and wonderful, personable servers treat first timers as though they were regulars. The perfect place for something out of the ordinary.” Rating: 25.

Jenny Moskowitz volunters with the Central PTA.

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