A seasoned chef whose career is still simmering

"Salvatore De Cristofaro" should translate to "well-traveled," as a peek at the chef-restaurateur's resume discloses.

In his 35-plus years in the United States, he's been affiliated with such restaurants as Pinocchio, Kristopher, San Remo, Ristorante De Cristofaro, Avanti, Arrivaderci, and Sandro, and held high-ranking chef's posts with the Sands and Trump Taj Mahal casinos in Atlantic City.

At this stage of his career, rather than slow down, he has launched a business importing food products from his native Apulia, Italy, and, with Christina and Robert Pirello of the TV show Christina Cooks, is about to start production of his own public-broadcasting show, to be shot in Italy. The idea, De Cristofaro says, is to expose Americans to real Italian cooking.

Oh, and he just opened Chef Salvatore (602 Skippack Pike, Blue Bell, 215-641-6789), a contemporary ristorante in the building across from the Blue Bell Inn that last housed Domenico's but more notably was the Blue Horse Inn. Bar is in the same spot. Decor in its various dining rooms is bright, with fresh plants, cross-laid table runners and bottles of De Cristofaro's own olive oil on the tables.

Prices are reasonable, with dinner entrees under $20 except for the New York strip for $23. It's open weekdays for lunch and Mondays through Saturdays for dinner.

Meridith McLoughlin has revamped Meridith's American Bistro, her Berwyn restaurant at 575 Lancaster Ave. It's now called Aneu. In a bid for chicness, the interior has been lightened considerably and the focal point is a cream and ivory marble-topped bar, with a bar menu on from 3 p.m. till closing. Besides an expanded selection of wines by the glass, there are 30 wines under $30 - a play on Route 30, Lancaster Avenue's given name.

Ed and Jim Herr - as in Herr's snack foods - are preparing to get into the restaurant business. They've bought the Nottingham Inn on 10 acres adjacent to their property in Chester County, which their parents bought in 1952. The 20-room inn includes a larger restaurant and a smaller breakfast house. "Our business is food, but we're looking for a general manager to run this up to the Herr standards," said Ed Herr, who made it clear that he and his brother would not be involved in the day-to-day operations. Settlement will be in late fall, he said.

Andy's Diner, which opened in March on Ridge Pike in Conshohocken, is on the move. A second location is up for early December at 2224 Roosevelt Blvd. in Trevose, which was a Steak & Ale restaurant for decades.

Change has come to the 1500 block of Walnut Street - once known as Center City's restaurant row - all right. This week should see the debut of Chipotle at 1512 Walnut St., the former Susanna Foo - down the street from Qdoba Mexican Grill at 1528 Walnut St.