Hemingways Also Rises Again, Owners Say

The escrow for the sale of the Hemingways in Corona del Mar, reported in this space in June, has fallen through. So owners Randy and Allison Johnson are regrouping in preparation to open again. “I’m a survivor,” Randy Johnson says. “The situations before are past, and we have a great name and reputation, a facility intact, young and upcoming talent.’

That talent includes new maitre d’ and manager Sean Hunter and new chef John Iverson. Iverson, 29, is a graduate of Newport Harbor High. He trained at the California Culinary Academy in San Francisco and apprenticed in the Bay area. His style is classic southern French-northern Italian.

“We’ll rebuild the company based on the three of us,” Johnson said.

CHILE OLE: On Monday, the Bouzy Rouge in Newport Beach will present a multicourse Chilean wine dinner. Featured wines will be Cousino Macal of Chile, touted as one of the 12 top boutique wineries in South America. The star of the evening, however, will be an Antiguas Reserve 1982 Cabernet. Ten folk dancers will perform too. The dinner is $45 per person, tax and tip included. Reservations: (714) 673-3440. (Look, too, for seasonal changes on the Bouzy menu.)

ORANGE GETS RED: A new Red Onion will make its debut at the end of the month in a free-standing building in the new Koll Center Orange, at State College Boulevard and Chapman Avenue. Ted Zoutis moves in from the Santa Ana branch to manage the new one. . . . Pasta Mesa replaces Ma Barker’s on 17th Street in Costa Mesa, and Ma is moving down the street to the former Big Boy location, which is being completely remodeled. Pasta Mesa owner Jim Walker, an original owner of Bessie Walls in Fullerton, offers fresh pastas, Italian food with a California slant at moderate prices. . . . Sushi will be a star at Genesis, which will open in mid-August at the site of the former Lakeside Restaurant in El Toro. Along with a nightclub that will include a deejay and some live music, Genesis promises a 22-seat sushi bar, according to manager John Lentin. . . .

If you’ve found parking difficult at Hans Prager’s Yankee Tavern in Newport Beach, try again. Valet parking is now available.