La Serre Loses Peiny but Gains Bosc

BIG CHANGE: Jean-Pierre Peiny, longtime chef at La Serre in Studio City, will be leaving the restaurant at the end of the month. He will open his own restaurant, L.A. Farm, at 3000 Olympic Blvd. in Santa Monica, where he will be serving what he calls “international cuisine.” Meanwhile, Jean-Pierre Bosc, former Chef at Fennel, will assume Peiny’s position at La Serre. La Serre’s Jerry Bakalyan says that the menu will be completely revamped. But he adds: “We will most likely keep our two most popular items, lobster out of the shell and the Veal La Serre, on the menu. And we are talking about getting a pastry chef.”

REHEARSAL DINNERS: After slowly trying out new dishes downtown at Checkers Hotel, new chef Thomas Keller has finalized his lunch and dinner menus. Keller’s new menu includes foie gras with a sweet onion salad; wild mushroom broth with roasted scallop; herb-crusted filet of cod with a white bean cassoulet; pan-roasted chicken breast with roasted fennel.

TWISTS: At DC3 in Santa Monica, the dancing stopped about six months ago. “We wanted to discourage a certain clientele that was not coming to the restaurant to eat,” says owner/manager August Spier. He adds that the new policy created rumors that the restaurant was closed, in Chapter 11, or for sale--none of which is true. In an attempt to lure serious diners back to DC3, menu prices have been reduced and the wine list has been expanded. Those who miss the dancing will be glad to know that it will soon be back--next door. DC3 plans to open a club called LUX during the first week of May, with its own entrance and telephone number, (213) 399-1577. Light appetizers will be served.

ON THE HORIZON: John Sedlar and Steve Garcia of St. Estephe say that their new restaurant, Bikini, will open on July 13 in Santa Monica. If you want to be the first on your block to taste the food, the restaurant is listed with Information at (213) 395-8611.