Pull Back The Curtain And You Find . . . Two Plates Of Cold Chicken

When a “short session over plates of chicken” is literally that — over a plate of chicken:

Day 2 of Caroline Kennedy’s cram session-cum-listening tour of New York took her to Sylvia’s, the Harlem soul food institution, for a lunchtime sit-down at the invitation of the Rev. Al Sharpton — with more than 40 journalists looking on, or at least trying to.

On Monday, Mr. Sharpton defended her against those who have said she is not qualified for the post. They also spoke by phone, and he proposed a meal at the same table where he met with Senator Barack Obama in November 2007. And on Thursday, after a short session over plates of chicken, collard greens, string beans and lemonade, Mr. Sharpton pronounced Ms. Kennedy, who is pursuing an appointment to the United States Senate, “the unique candidate in this, the unique person in this with some unique skills.”

Ms. Kennedy repaid the compliment, calling their tête-à-tête “fantastic.”

It was not clear how much the two actually ate during their meeting; the plates were set out more than half an hour before they arrived, so the food was most likely cold. And with photographers and reporters kicked to the curb, Ms. Kennedy and Mr. Sharpton — who excused himself by saying he had to get to his radio program — wrapped up their conversation in short order.