RETAIL : Southwestern-Style Restaurant Plans Still Missing a Few Key Ingredients

It’s been nearly five months since Taco Bell Corp. and restaurateur David Wilhelm agreed to form a joint venture to come up with a new Southwestern-style restaurant concept.

But the joint venture still hasn’t been formalized. Wilhelm says he wants to pursue the project, and a Taco Bell spokeswoman said talks are “continuing.”

The proposed restaurant chain is viewed as an integral part of Taco Bell’s ongoing push into full-service dining. At the time, Taco Bell Chief Executive John Martin said the venture would “create a new concept that will drive home quality, service and value for Southwestern dining.”

Wilhelm, who has created some of Orange County’s best-known eateries, including Diva, Bistro 201 and Zuni Grill, described himself as an “investor” in most of those restaurants. “I’m continuing to do things I enjoy on the creative side,” Wilhelm said. “I’m developing new concepts on my own and in concert with other people. I’ll definitely have something next year that I’ll be involved in.”

--Compiled by Greg Johnson Times staff writer