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Return of the Mac: Swallow Bistro's cheeseified new concept
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Return of the Mac: Swallow Bistro's cheeseified new concept
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We recently spotted this intriguing note on the door of Swallow, Jason and Cindy Caminos' Liberties Walk bistro:
We realize that the current economic situation has affected everyone; with this in mind we have decided to launch an entirely new menu. Our new menu will still feature the best ingredients possible, but prepared in a more familiar and comforting way, with no menu item to exceed $12.00 and an average price of $8.00. The new menu will be a bit of a shock to many people, but we believe you will really love what we are going to offer. All we will say about the new menu is that it is being designed with very sincere thought and consideration.
Tomorrow, Tue., Dec. 2, will mark the official debut of this new menu — which is made up entirely of macaroni and cheese. You have the option of choosing from a short roster of chefs' suggestions (a four-cheese with gruyere, parmesan, manchego and cheddar; a Greek option with gyro meat, feta and goat cheese, kalamata olives and spinach) or piecing together your own from a list of cheeses, meats and veggies.
Jason says he and his wife had been tinkering with the idea of creating an all-mac lunch menu for some time, but eventually decided to test out the concept for both lunch and dinner. (Before, the couple had been dealing in French- and Asian-influenced bistro fare — check out Trey Popp's May 2008 review.) "People are really hurting right now, so we wanted to make our food a little bit more affordable," he says. "This seemed to be the best way to guarantee great quality consistently, and keep it at a low price." Most ingredients are being sourced locally, just like before, Jason says.
You can check out the full menu after the jump or on Swallow's Web site.
Jason says reaction from regulars has been mostly positive. "A few were a little disappointed, but there were many others who thought it was a wonderful idea. One couple in particular loved the place, but they were only able to come in once a month. They were excited [to hear about the new menu]."
Swallow's mac menu will be available Monday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. for lunch and 5 to 10 p.m. for dinner.
Jason and Cindy’s Suggestions:
The American: american and cheddar
sm $5.00 lg. $7.00
4 Cheese: gruyere, parmesan, manchego, cheddar
sm. $8.00 lg. $12.00
Cheeseburger: american, cheddar, seasoned ground sirloin, sautéed onions
sm. $7.00 lg. $10.00
The Italian: mozzarella, sun-dried tomato, basil, roasted garlic
Sm. $7.00 lg. $10.00
The Greek: gyro, feta, goat cheese, kalamata olives, spinach
sm. $7.00 lg. $10.00
The Southerner: gruyere, cheddar, bacon
Sm. $7.00 lg. $10.00
The Mexican: cheddar, pepper jack, chicken, jalapenos, sautéed onions, cilantro
Sm. $8.50 lg. $12.25
The Californian: monterey jack, manchego, chicken, sun-dried tomato,
Sm. $7.00 lg. $10.00
The Vegetarian: cheddar, broccoli, cauliflower, roasted garlic, sweet corn
Sm. $8.50 lg. $12.25
The Casserole: tuna, cheddar, sweet peas, sautéed onions, mushrooms
Sm. $8.50 lg $12.25
CREATE YOUR OWN…
1. Choose your size: small - $5 large - $7
2. Choose up to 2 cheeses: American,
Cheddar, Feta, Goat Cheese, Gorgonzola (blue cheese), Gruyere,
Manchego, Monterey Jack, Mozzarella, Parmesan, Pepper Jack, Swiss
3. Choose up to 3 ingredients: small – add $2 large – add $3
Meats: hotdog, seasoned ground sirloin, bacon, chicken breast, gyro, ham, tuna, shrimp
Vegetables:
spinach, sautéed onions, shitake mushrooms, roasted garlic, broccoli,
cauliflower, sweet corn, sundried tomatoes, scallions, kalamata olives,
jalapeno peppers
Fresh Herbs: basil, cilantro, thyme, rosemary, parsley
Additional cheese or ingredient (per item): small $1.50 – large $2.25
4. with or without bread crumbs
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