Rewriting the Book on Barbacoa

David Wilhelm has sold Barbacoa, which he opened about two years ago near the entrance to Balboa peninsula.

The buyer is Jean-Marie Josselin, a cookbook author and owner of the Pacific Cafe on the island of Kauai.

The selling price was not revealed, but Greg Solomon, vice president of Wilhelm’s West Coast Restaurant Ventures in Newport Beach, said Josselin made “a good offer.”

The restaurant closed after New Year’s Eve and is undergoing renovations, Solomon said, with plans to reopen some time before the end of March. He said it is possible that Josselin and Wilhelm will operate the new restaurant as a joint venture, but talks are still in progress.

Barbacoa’s menu was described as Southwestern with Island influences. General manager Mark Thompson said he thinks the Josselin menu will center on seafood, but may be more traditional, without the eclectic Wilhelm touch.

News of the sale comes less than a month after Wilhelm opened the 120-seat Topaz Cafe at the Bowers Museum in Santa Ana. His company also owns Orange County restaurants Kachina, Zuni Grill, Bistro 201, Cancun Cafe and Diva.

West Coast Restaurant Ventures gave up its management interest in Kachina Grill in downtown Los Angeles a few months ago, Solomon said.

Zagat has published its 1993 restaurant guide for Southern California. The guide solicited comments from 4,300 volunteers who live here and eat out an average of 3.5 times a week. Restaurants are rated in four categories: food, decor, service and cost.

No Orange County establishments made the Top 20 most-popular restaurants, or the Top 20 restaurants with

the best food. Those spots were reserved for restaurants in Los Angeles County.

However, the guide does have a ranking within Orange County of the restaurants with the best food. They are, in order, Pascal, Antoine, Five Feet, JW’s and Antonello.

The Hotel Laguna is playing host to chef Gerner Dahl from the Strandkroen restaurant in Denmark through Sunday. Together with the hotel’s executive chef, Todd Clore, Dahl will prepare special dishes from pheasant, venison and partridge, along with the regular menu. 425 S. Coast Highway, Laguna Beach. (714) 494-1151.

In this month’s Conde Nast Traveler, restaurant critic Mimi Sheraton names Gustaf Anders among 50 winners of the magazine’s annual distinguished restaurants awards. Gustaf Anders is the only Orange County restaurant on the list, and was named for the first time this year.

Only three other restaurants in Southern California were so honored: L.A.’s Patina, Ivy and Katsu. Gustaf Anders, 1651 Sunflower Ave., Santa Ana. (714) 668-1737.