Bar Ferdinand: Date And Bacon Empanadas, $7
By Glen Macnow
Bar Ferdinand
1030 N. 2nd Street, Philadelphia
It's crusty, it's flaky, it's savory and sweet. All in all pretty damned good. The bacon date empanada – a regular appetizer at this Northern Liberties Mexican-themed tapas-and-wine joint – tastes, for lack of a better description, like a Greek baklava with an edge of swine. And that's a good thing.
It arrives drenched in honey and flecked with almonds. Those flavors, plus the date, give it a pleasant sweetness and chewiness. And then, mid-bite, you get the saltiness of the bacon, a thick strip wrapped around the date. Great combo. A well-conceived, well-executed start to your meal.
My only gripe at Bar Ferdinand was that the draught beer I order – a Troeg's Hopback Amber – came in an undersized glass. Appropriate for a high-priced saison, perhaps, but not this brew.
Score: 80/100