Caterers Christine Fischer (ChriStevens) and partner Clara Gomez also have rehabbed Center City’s Astral Plane, which closed in July after 34 years. There's been the softest of soft openings as Astral Plane Millennium (1708 Lombard St., 215-735-0815). Gone are the Astral Plane’s parachute ceiling and knickknacks, in favor of simple, creamy white walls, track lighting and white tablecloths. Also gone, much to Fischer’s dismay, is the liquor license, which building owner Reed Aphagian sold. It’s BYOB, though Fischer wants to buy a new license.
It's open Tuesdays through Sundays for dinner. Here's the menu (which I recoded for the Web but did not edit):
Appetizers
Curry Stew ($6.50), baked pumpkins stuffed with mixed vegetables stewed in Indian curry.
Poached Ginger Pear ($8), pear halves filled with creamy ricotta cheese, garnished with dry cranberries, crème fraiche and crystallized ginger.
Two Way Calamari ($10), baked calamari in a homemade spicy red sauce and grilled calamari with olive oil and a lemon wedge.
Beef Kebobs ($10.50), grilled, marinated Angus beef, drizzled with cold tomato and olive oil garlic dressing.
Fried Plantain ($6) topped with bruschetta
Salads
Spring mix ($6.50), cherry tomato, carrots shredded on top and red onion. Balsamic dressing.
Spanish asparagus orange salad ($7.50), fresh pepper, lite salt, romaine leaves, tomato orange dressing
Arugula salad ($8), arugula, sliced parmesan cheese, olive oil garlic dressing.
Pear and pecan salad ($8.50), fresh pears cuts, roasted pecans, butter lettuce and blue cheese dressing
True Greek salad ($6.50), cucumbers, feta cheese, black olives, tomatoes, red wine vinegar olive oil dressing.
Caesar salad ($7.50), Romaine cuts, fresh parmesan cheese and croutons, Caesar dressing
Entrees
Astral Plane Millenium pasta ($17), al dente pasta, asparagus, sun dried tomatoes, fresh artichokes, green sweet peas, sautéed red onion and truffle oil.
Smoked salmon farfalle ($18.50), smoked salmon blended with a vodka cream blush sauce.
Parpadelle pasta ($19), porcini mushrooms and fresh cream in homemade ribbon pasta, garnished with fresh parsley and olive oil.
Drunken chicken ($20), boneless, skinless chicken breast marinated in wine Jerez, cloves, sugar, black pepper, cinnamon nutmeg, raisins and almonds.
White fish empanadas ($17.50), onions carrots, green olives, capers and fried flour dough, spicy blush sauce.
Snapper ($25), fresh snapper rolled with fresh clams, mussels, shrimp and herbs, wrapped in wax paper and slow baked.
Prime pork chop ($22.50), 9-ounce seared pork chop slowly oven baked in a brown shitake mushroom sauce.
½ rack of New Zealand lamb chops ($28.50), grilled medium rare with moscato wine sauce.
Carne mixta ($28), grilled tri-filets of pork, beef and veal over brandy sauce with port reduction and fresh herbs.
Carpaccio ($12), raw beef Carpaccio, arugula, parmesan cheese, lemon, salt and pepper.
Raw tuna carpaccio ($11), sun dried tomato, red onions, olives and lemon.
Cooked octopus carpaccio ($12), watercress, lemon and orange dressing
Scallops carpaccio ($14), raw and seared scallops with parsley and olive oil.
Hot Beef carpaccio ($12),mushroom sauce and truffle oil.
Salmon carpaccio ($11), rolled salmon with garlic and spinach