A Taste of Two Countries

An apparent trend afoot in the food world has seemingly disparate cuisines being blended under one roof. Long Beach’s recently closed Pavarotti and Stein (marrying Italian and Jewish cooking styles) had one such menu, and similar-styled ventures continue to sprout in the L.A. area.

In Orange County, Ciao Mein, a restaurant blending Italian and Asian cuisines, opened last week inside the Hyatt Regency Irvine. It replaces Morell’s, which served Continental cuisine. Ciao Mein’s menu offers dim sum and thin crust pizza, Thai spring rolls and lasagna with sausage, char sui duck and pounded veal chop. To drink, choices include Italian and Asian beers, sake and grappa, an Italian brandy.

The menu is a creation of chefs Mark Chillinsky, formerly of Rex in Newport Beach, and Kuo-Feng Chung and P.J. Coyne, who have both worked at Five Feet in Laguna Beach and Five Feet Two in Newport. 17900 Jamboree Blvd., Irvine. (714) 756-CIAO.

Chez Dante’s, which closed more than five months ago, has reopened under new management. Now Dante’s, the restaurant is run by Sylvain Touati, a native of Vichy, France. Touati ran Wooley’s restaurant in Santa Ana for six years. He said he will offer Eastern European cuisine: Russian, Hungarian and German. “I feel that will be the trend in the next few years, with the opening of the Balkans,” Touati said. Dante’s first day of business was Oct. 1. 1701 Corinthian Way, Newport Beach. (714) 955-3821.

Il Fornaio Cucina Italiana has opened two courts for bocce, an Italian game similar to lawn bowling. Restaurant management is optimistic about the potential popularity of the game: Il Fornaio is already planning a reservation policy for courts when bocce leagues form. For now, the courts are free to diners and patrons of the adjacent bakery, the sister restaurant in Costa Mesa, Cucina Expressa, and guests of Lakeshore Towers tenants. Play is limited to one hour. 18051 Von Karman Ave., Irvine. (714) 261-1444.

Since its inception, the emphasis at Studio Cafe in Corona del Mar has been its jazz club atmosphere. But owners Larry J. Cano and Scott Shuttleworth were determined to strengthen the dining experience. So they recently hired chef Clayton Shipps, whose California-style cuisine is based upon fresh, natural ingredients without preservatives, additives or stabilizers. “Earthy,” he calls it.

Old favorites such as lemon chicken, Studio ribs and tomato-sausage soup remain. But the personable chef (who likes to work the dining room as well as the kitchen) has added soft shell crab salad, scampi caprese, Moroccan shrimp with warm couscous salad, fettuccine primavera Alfredo and daily fresh fish specialties. Prices range from $5.95 to $12.95, with entrees including soup or salad. Lunch is Monday through Friday 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.; dinner Sunday through Wednesday 4 to 10 p.m., Thursday through Saturday till 11 p.m.; Sunday brunch, 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. 3201 E. Coast Highway, Corona del Mar. (714) 675-7575.

A new Coco’s Bakery Restaurant opened last week in Anaheim Hills in a new strip mall. It is the 50th Coco’s in Orange County, according to owner Restaurant Enterprises Group, which is based in Irvine. 8188 E. Santa Ana Canyon Road. (714) 283-2394.

The Daily Grill opened a new banquet room earlier this month. The room seats 40 for dinner or lunch or 50 for cocktails. Manager Darren Grinard said the 19-month-old restaurant, which does not take reservations, had been receiving requests to book private parties. The Grill will offer party fare from its New York steakhouse-style menu or will take requests for special menu items. Host and no-host bar options are available. 957 Newport Center Drive, Newport Beach. (714) 644-2223.