Early on, Nutter sampled the cheese from the antipasto platter, and Taubenberger dug into a plate of lasagna and coleslaw. His hosts fussed that he was eating from a paper plate instead of china.
The potential voters, who had participated in Great Expectations discussions, all brought an appetizer, salad or dessert and contributed their concerns to the discussion.
Harris Sokoloff, a University of Pennsylvania Graduate School of Education professor who was the evening's moderator, taped a pad to the dining-room door and asked for topics on city issues to discuss.
The list soon grew to more than 16 items, including the environment, violence, poverty, housing, health and education.
Without much formality, with box fans whirring, the candidates and citizens took seats around a long dinner table and plunged into discussions - and their meals.
Francesca Toscani of Logan Square, who brought a grilled vegetable and rice salad, started off the discussion by saying she wanted the city to be "clean and green."
The candidates listened, but no one was expecting them to respond. Which they did not.
Next up was Patricia Berrian-Marrujo of East Oak Lane, who brought cold cuts and potato salad. Her issue was the city's community gardens. Schoolchildren should be encouraged to participate and get their hands in the dirt, she said.
Iván Ortiz of North Philadelphia, who brought pasteles and rellenos, agreed.
"We have two women in their 70s taking care of our gardens," he said. "They need help from younger people."
Mary Ellen Graham, who had grown the cabbage for the coleslaw in a community garden in Spring Garden, said that children from a Salvation Army shelter had helped out at the garden one year.
