One Big Table

You didn’t have to decide what you were in the mood to eat Monday night during the second annual One Big Table, An International Tasting held at The Westin Pittsburgh hotel.

The foodfest to benefit Literacy Pittsburgh featured Chinese, Italian, Indian and several other cuisines so that the more than 200 guests could have it all.

The Organization of Chinese Americans performed, while the Istituto Mondo Italiano offered a pasta-making demonstration before serving linguine and spaghetti.

The party was chaired by Maggie Fantaski, Sunthar Tharmalingam and Steve Sokoloski. New CEO Carey Harris thanked the chairs and supporters.

“We are thrilled to be celebrating regional diversity and how much richer it makes our lives and our community,” she said. “Because of Literacy Pittsburgh people will get their GED, they will get better jobs and higher education,” she noted.

The focus of Literacy Pittsburgh is moving people to college and careers through literacy. A raffle and wine pull, as well as the Artist Market boutique, kept everyone busy between bites.

Enjoying food and friends were: UPMC’s Tom McGough and Lisa Newcomb (with her husband Kevin Mullen); former CEO Donald Block; Lorin Wisniewski; Clair McCue; Brittany Eltman; Jonathan Skowron; and Trisha Bandremer and Irene McGee.

Stephanie Strasburg/Post-Gazette photos From left, One Big Table event co-chairs Steve Sokoloski, Maggie Fantaski and Sunthar Tharmalingam.

Viviana Altieri, executive director of Istituto Mondo Italiano, serves some of her homemade pasta.