It’s safe to say January will be...

It’s safe to say January will be a busy month for Pete Ransom.

Ransom has been the sole owner--except for a period of about four months--of Pete’s Breakfast House in Ventura, since its opening in 1984. But as of this week, he plans to welcome Gina Thayer, an employee of the restaurant since its beginning, as a partner in the business.

Thayer will take on much of the management responsibility of the Breakfast House, freeing Ransom to run Cucina d’Italia, another Ventura dining institution.

Yes, Ransom expects officially to take over the much-loved, cozy Italian restaurant around mid-January. Ransom said the restaurant’s regular diners--and there are quite a few of them--can expect things to remain pretty much the same as they’ve always been.

“I don’t plan to change the concept at all,” he said. “I’ll keep the general atmosphere.”

As for the slight changes, Cucina d’Italia is now open for dinner from 5 to 9 p.m., Wednesdays through Fridays. Ransom wants to add Saturdays as soon as he gets settled in. He also plans to make a few changes to the menu. “I’ll add fresh baked fish, grilled lamb chops and other grilled meats,” he said.

Pete’s Breakfast House is at 2055 E. Main St. Cucina d’Italia is at 1497 E. Thompson Blvd.

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More business news on the Ransom front: Look for Repete’s and Co., a little retail shop next door to Pete’s Breakfast House, to open sometime this month as well. The place will sell to-go cappuccinos, espressos, and the like, some baked goods, cheeses, T-shirts, gift baskets and other merchandise.

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Outside the county line, but worthy of note: More than 40 employees of Santa Barbara County restaurants and wine-tasting rooms recently completed the eight-month Wine Seminar Series sponsored by the Santa Barbara County Vintners’ Assn. Study topics included viticulture, grape varieties, winemaking and food and wine pairing.

Among the establishments represented were Chad’s, Citronelle, the El Encanto Hotel, Emilio’s, the Four Seasons Biltmore, the Santa Barbara Winery, the Wine Cask, and the Stonehouse restaurant at San Ysidro Ranch.

Of course, what this means, ideally, is more knowledgeable service.