Food and Drinq

Well, look what's on the front burner again.

Tuesday (3/11) marks the grand opening of Swallow at 1030 N. American St. (215-238-1399) in the Liberties Walk development in Northern Liberties. << UPDATE: Opening delayed till 3/12. >>

The sexily candlelit 38-seat Euro BYO bistro* with bold, deep-purple walls had been scheduled to open last summer, and then last fall, but various pitfalls befell husband-and-wife team Jason and Cindy Caminos.

The Caminoses, most recently in D.C., met a dozen years ago at Culinary Institute of America. This is their debut as solo operators, or as they put it, "spending their own money.".

* They're unabashed in their love for bistros, and they want this to be a place where chefs want to eat. "No fusion. Just great, seasonal ingredients, well-prepared," says Jason, the very talkative one. He has "very little patience" for molecular gastronomy and the chefs who turn their kitchens into laboratories. He'll sell bone marrow "because it's delicious and I want to drum up business for cardiologists."

Cindy is the organized one who is cooler under fire, both say.

As outsiders who are now insiders living in Northern Liberties, they've been mighty impressed at the warm welcome they've received from the neighbors, including Bar Ferdinand's Owen Kamihira. Marc Vetri, they say, sat them down in Osteria and helped them choose suppliers.

It'll be open nightly. Lunch and brunch should be on within a few weeks.

Here's the opening menu, whose mains are priced at $18 to $24, less for the burger. And what a burger... !

HORS D’OEUVRES

Mussels steamed in white wine, butter, and garlic
Goat cheese bruschetta with dressed arugula
Roasted bone marrow with parsley salade and grilled baguette
Cheese plate / trio sampling with honeycomb and fruit

ENTREES

Roasted Chicken with fingerling potatoes sautéed in duck fat and asparagus
Steak frites / dry aged served with herb butter and french fries
Asian-glazed salmon on a bed of cilantro sticky rice and sugar snap peas
Quiche du Jour with mixed green salade
Bone-in pork loin / grilled, served with sweet potatoes sautéed in duck fat and squash medley
Burger / ground with pork belly on onion brioche, with french fries

SALADES

Fennel and Mushroom / sliced fennel, mushrooms, and shaved parmesan, dressed with lemon vinaigrette
Caesar / whole romaine heart leaves with toasted baguette
Bibb Salade / bibb lettuce with fine herb dressing

DESSERTS

Crème Brulee / rich vanilla custard with a hard caramel shell
Raspberry tart / shortbread crust with raspberry preserves
Chocolate hazelnut mousse cake / dense chocolate cake with hazelnut mousse topped with dark chocolate and brandy ganache

++++

They're particularly proud of the mod restroom, a marked contrast to the dining room. The lights were stripped from an old kitchen hood.