Heritage Will Stick With the Past

Rumors have been circulating that the Saddle Peak Lodge in Calabasas is up for sale. “Absolutely not,” says Ann Ehringer, who owns the restaurant with her husband Al. “We have no intention of selling it.”

But Rolf Nonast, general manager of the Saddle Peak since its 1985 reopening and of the year-old Heritage (also owned by the Ehringers) in Santa Monica, has resigned from both establishments. Nonast, who was earlier associated with Scandia, the Bistro and the Santa Monica Chronicle (which became the Heritage), among other noted local restaurants, is pursuing other projects in Florida.

In his stead, the Ehringers have named Frederic Vierveyzer as executive director of both restaurants. Vierveyzer was briefly the director of public dining at the Hotel del Coronado in Coronado, and before that owned his own restaurant and was then associated with Grand Metropolitan Hotels in his native Amsterdam. “We’re not displeased with Rolf in any way,” says Mrs. Ehringer. “He just felt that it was time to move on.”

There have been other changes at The Heritage, Mrs. Ehringer says. “We’ve simplified the menu, which gives our chefs a chance to prepare a lot of specials. We’ve also redecorated somewhat, leaving the basic form of the place but taking out all the contemporary paintings and replacing them with things that have a more traditional feeling, like wreathes, period furniture and botanical prints. We also have on loan some absolutely beautiful antique quilts from the Margaret Cavigga Collection.”

She says there are no plans to redecorate or make significant menu changes at Saddle Peak.

WHAT’S NEWS: The Caribbean-themed Key West is new on the Third Street Promenade in Santa Monica. It’s run by Nicole Focone, proprietor of the nearby Buon Gusto. . . . Misto Caffe and Bakery opened last month in the Hillside Village shopping center in Torrance--a few doors away from Fino and a few miles away from Chez Melange, all of which are under the same ownership. A bakery, featuring the wares of pastry chef Marie Capellino, is about to open next to the Misto dining room. . . . Jay’s, “A Great New York Deli,” is new in Long Beach. (Despite its sub-title, the restaurant is said to be patterned after the old Clifton’s Cafeteria in downtown L.A.). . . . Bayside 240 opens Monday in the Portofino Inn in Redondo Beach, promising a “West L.A. type of dining experience” for South Bay residents. . . . Orleans, which actually is in West L.A., now features an all-you-can-eat crawfish boil every Sunday from noon to 4 p.m., with live music, gumbo, and beer by the pitcher. . . . Patout’s in Westwood serves crawfish, too, in numerous guises, from April 30 through May 5. . . . In Venice, meanwhile, Rockenwagner is serving its annual springtime asparagus menu: three appetizers and two main courses built around that delicacy (in both its white and green forms). One main dish is a full pound of European white asparagus, served with prosciutto, warm citrus vinaigrette, hollandaise sauce and homemade mayonnaise. . . . And Genghis Cohen, the best-named Chinese restaurant in L.A., has opened a new room, which it has dubbed, uh, Genghis Cantina. The room is for overflow seating, televised sports events, live music on Thursday nights and occasional “non-celebrity poetry readings,” according to proprietor Alan Rinde. He adds that the kitchen is experimenting with “Chinese Southwestern” food in honor of the Cantina, and is already serving Chinese-accented chipotle chicken.

EVENTS: Le Meridien Hotel in Newport Beach holds its annual Chocolate-Lover’s Weekend, April 28-29. Among the chefs competing in a “Truffle of the Year” contest on Sunday are Trumps’ Michael Roberts, La Toque’s Ken Frank, L’Ermitage’s Michel Blanchet, and Sheila Linderman of Maple Drive. Call the hotel at (714) 476-2001 for details. . . . And “Cool Comedy Hot Cuisine” is the name of this year’s benefit for the Scleroderma Research Foundation on April 30 at City Restaurant. Tickets are $275 and $500 per person.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY: Ben Dimsdale’s celebrates its 40th anniversary this month, offering a special $33.50 fixed-price champagne dinner nightly from April 30-May 4 . . . .And tonight and Monday night are your last two chances to help Tulipe in West Hollywood celebrate its first anniversary. Wines and foods of France’s Loire Valley are featured, with a $40 fixed-price menu available.