A 5-Course Feast Comes Up From the Cellar for Switzerland’s Birthday

Switzerland marks its 700th birthday today, and the Swiss owners of the Cellar in Fullerton, Ernest and Trudy Zingg, will celebrate with a five-course feast. With a choice of hors d’oeuvres, soups, salads and desserts, the entree selections include young rabbit in red wine with pearl-onion sauce and polenta, medallions of venison with apple and cranberries, and slivers of Provimi veal sauteed in mushrooms with a cream sauce. The cost is $37.50 per person, plus tax and gratuity, with festivities beginning at 6 p.m. The Cellar is at 305 N. Harbor Blvd. (at the Villa del Sol). Reservations: (714) 525-5682.

Mikoshi Japanese Noodle House recently opened in Brea, with a menu focusing on two types of Japanese noodles: ramen (centerpiece of soups) and yakisoba (used in stir-fried dishes). You’ll also find teriyaki chicken and a salad with chilled ramen, chicken breast and avocado. Steve Imai, executive vice president of MOS Food West Inc., describes the place as serving fast food with a cafe atmosphere--there’s table service, and food is served on china, but main dish prices range from $3.69 to $4.29. It’s the prototype for more to come in the Southland under the parent company, MOS Food Services Inc., operator of Japan’s largest hamburger chain. The new restaurant, at 955 E. Birch St., is open Sunday through Thursday from 10:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. and Friday and Saturday till midnight. Information: (714) 255-9456.

Tom Burgess of Burgess Cellars Napa Valley will host a wine dinner at Antonello Ristorante in South Coast Plaza Village on Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. The reception with hors d’oeuvres begins at 6:30 p.m. Five courses include air-cured beef tenderloin with radicchio (served with Burgess Chardonnay 1985 “Library Selection”) and an entree of veal stuffed with spinach and smoked provolone in a hearty tomato sauce (served with Burgess Cabernet 1980 “Library Selection”). The cost is $55 per person, excluding tax and gratuity. Reservations must be made by Aug. 2. Call (714) 751-7153.

When two restaurant-goers approached us recently with word that Rex is declaring bankruptcy, we called Rex Chandler, owner of the Fashion Island restaurant, for the facts. “Silly rumors,” he said of the bankruptcy gossip, while admitting that “this has been a tough and challenging year for us and everyone else.” He reports that the sale of 21 Oceanfront (the original beach location for the Rex) is being negotiated, and though the new Rex hasn’t met projections, “We’re doing more business here than in our peak year, 1989, at the beach.” Chandler has sought to counteract Rex’s ultra-expensive, reserved image through such promotions as a $21 four-course sunset dinner, dollar glasses of champagne and relaxation of the dress code.