Bouzy Rouge Transforms Into Transylvania Tuesday

When it comes to Halloween (or any excuse for a party), you can count on Tony Hermann at Newport Beach’s Bouzy Rouge to get into the spirit. “Transylvania beckons all yuppie vampires to the Bouzy Rouge next Tuesday night,” he declares, claiming he’s busy brewing up bat-wing bisque, werewolf tongues and meringue of black widow web. Actually he’ll serve a shortened version of his regular menu. But there will be fortunetellers and a gypsy violinist. And those who pledge to donate blood to Hoag Hospital will receive “a numbered wolf bane sprig” that will qualify them for a drawing for a year of 12 dinners for two at the Bouzy Rouge.

(Hermann also will serve the barrels of this year’s Beaujolais Nouveau at the Bouzy on the traditional date, Nov. 16. He’ll serve two French offerings, as well as one from California.)

21 CHEF SALUTE: Executive chefs from 21 Orange County restaurants team with 15 California wineries for the “Fourth Annual Great Chefs of Orange County” extravaganza Sunday from 4 to 7 p.m. in the Grand Ballroom of the Dana Point Resort. Chefs, coordinated by Dana Point Resort executive chef Peter Striffolino, represent such restaurants as J.W.’s in the Anaheim Marriott Hotel, Bangkok Four, Dover’s in the Doubletree Hotel at The City in Orange, Mr. Stox, the Ritz-Carlton, and Ron’s in Laguna. Wineries include Alexander Valley, Clos du Bois, Culbertson, Robert Keenan and William Hill. All proceeds benefit the Orange County Chapter of the National Kidney Foundation. Tickets ($100 per person) may be purchased at the door, or in advance by calling (714) 962-7675.

Ticket buyers may take advantage of a “buy one, get one free” guest room special for Sunday night: For an additional $100, guests may stay overnight and bring another couple to stay in an additional room at no cost. A portion of the $100 will also be donated to the Kidney Foundation.

CHANGING COURSES: Plat du Jour in Stone Creek Plaza, Irvine, is now Chateau Lafite, specializing in nouvelle French cuisine. Owner/manager Ramez Sobhi, who was trained by the Meridien Corp. and served as food and beverage manager at The Registry and other hotels, is joined by chef Eugene Piquemal of Chez Cary and Chanteclair. The restaurant is open for lunch Mondays through Fridays and for dinner Mondays through Saturdays with dinner entree prices ranging from $10 to $15.

Jean Bernard Delvert, who managed Gemmell’s in Costa Mesa for four years, has purchased the restaurant and renamed it Chez Moi. Retaining the same crew, including chef Cervantes, he’s revamped the menu, eliminating such expensive ingredients as truffles. Entree prices for dinner (Mondays through Saturdays) now range from $12 to $23, with $13 maximum for lunch (Mondays through Fridays).

Quinn’s Cafe in Laguna Hills is now Restaurant Thainakorn, sister restaurant to Thainakorn in Buena Park. Situated overlooking a tiny lake, with outdoor as well as indoor seating, it specializes in home-style Thai cooking.

Jose and Molly Franco have purchased Camelot in Santa Ana and are busy transforming it to El Cortez. The Francos, with 19 years in the restaurant business, own El Cortez restaurants in West Los Angeles and Laguna Niguel. Specialties will be carnitas Jalisco, homemade chiles rellenos and tamales. They expect to open Nov. 13.

COMING ATTRACTIONS: A new Good Earth restaurant will rise at Crossroads Center, Culver Drive and Barranca Parkway in Irvine. . . . Tony’s Sea Landing opens a second location, in Mission Viejo, the first week in November. An extended menu and private party facilities are promised. . . . The Hacienda in Santa Ana opens enlarged dining facilities plus a new room for private parties in mid-November.

LIGHTS OUT: Rumrunners in Seal Beach is closed. Ditto, Francois’ in Huntington Beach and A La Carte Bistro in Huntington Harbour.

THANKSGIVING RESCUE: Why not free the family chef from the kitchen this Thanksgiving? Liberation might mean either dinner out--or the finished meal brought in. At 7th Heaven, the gourmet deli at Costa Mesa’s Crystal Court, Renee and Scott Diamond will prepare complete bring-home holiday dinners including roast Shelton turkey, honey-glazed ham, corn bread pudding and deep dish pumpkin pie. Scott estimates dinner for four will run about $65. (714) 668-9461. Showley-Wrightson in Newport Beach, meanwhile, offers whole roasted turkey (or beef tenderloin), regular or wild rice dressing, several different vegetables and five pies. (714) 760-9701.

ACCENT ON WINE: The Ritz-Carlton in Dana Point will host the fourth annual “World of Wines” three-day celebration of food and wines, Nov. 17 to 19. Scheduled are discussion seminars (“Power Wining & Dining,” for example), tasting seminars of such select wines as Meritage and grand tasting receptions of futures and library collections. A gala dinner on Nov. 19 will honor John Parducci of Parducci Wine Cellars.

MORE WINING/DINING: Antonello in Santa Ana will welcome wine maker Mike Grgich to introduce the wines of Grgich Cellars Nov. 13 at a five-course dinner to include duck prosciutto with truffle oil and roasted veal with Porcini mushrooms. Reservations, at $75 a head, should be made by Nov. 8.

HERE ‘N’ THERE: Just four more days remain to join John Dominis’ Newport Beach Pacific Lobster Harvest Festival. The special lobster appetizers and entrees (being served in addition to the regular menu) include grilled lobster medallions served chilled with Hawaiian papaya and warm Oriental vinaigrette; and lobster with sea bass truffle mousse, wrapped in filo and served with black caviar butter sauce. Entree prices range from $23 to $32. . . . Game season is open at Le Midi in Newport Beach, where “La Chasse” festival entrees range from saddle of venison with Calvados and spatzle to boar steak with rose hips and quails in Marsala. . . . Alfredo’s Ristorante in the Westin South Coast Plaza recently reinstated its V.I.P. card: For a membership fee of $75, diners in Alfredo’s and in the hotel’s Cafe receive discounts up to 50% on food, as well as 20% beverage discounts in the Cafe, Alfredo’s Taverna and the Lobby Lounge.

PICK A WINNER: When you’re stuck as to which restaurant to choose for which type of food, the Southern California Restaurant Writers Awards booklet offers a handy reference. It lists more than 500 restaurants, from Santa Barbara to the Mexican border, in 10 categories (American, contemporary, seafood, ethnic, etc.). It also designates restaurants with superior wine lists and service. To order, mail $5 to Southern California Restaurant Writers, 1139 N. Jasmine St., Anaheim, Calif. 92801.