VENTURA COUNTY WEEKEND : Pierpont’s Top Chef to Leave as 1996 Arrives : New Year’s Eve dinner will be Louis Ludwig’s finale. Kevin Sherry, formerly of Camarillo’s Las Posas Country Club, will take his place.

Louis Ludwig, executive chef at Ventura’s Pierpont Inn the past 2 1/2 years, will leave the restaurant as of Tuesday to become head chef at the new Serrano Country Club in El Dorado Hills, east of Sacramento.

Kevin Sherry, former executive chef at Las Posas Country Club in Camarillo, will take Ludwig’s place at the Pierpont.

In his new venture, Ludwig will be accompanied by his wife, Jeri Ludwig, who has been hired as assistant food and beverage director at the $200-million El Dorado club.

“A company we had worked with before, Western Golf Properties, asked us to come and open up this golf facility,” said Louis Ludwig. “It’s an exciting move for us.” The Ludwigs have opened other country clubs across the country, including the five-golf-course Wild Wing Plantation in Myrtle Beach, S.C.

During his stay at the 87-year-old Pierpont, Ludwig attempted to modernize the menu while maintaining some of the cuisine with which longtime diners are familiar.

“I think we’ve defined the Pierpont image and created a food style necessary for the ‘90s and the turn of the century,” he said. “It’s a combination of comfort food and California cuisine all done with a very healthy influence, taking advantage of the area’s fresh produce and terrific seafood.”

In taking over the executive chef position at the Pierpont, Sherry plans to pick up where Ludwig leaves off.

“The clientele seems to be happy with the menu,” he said. “I’ll keep the locals happy with the tried-and-true favorites, and I’ll experiment with the specials.”

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Like Ludwig, Sherry also leans toward healthier fare.

“Our styles are similar,” he said. “We both agree with getting away from the use of lots of creams and butters in our sauces, and using more stocks and reductions. Chicken stocks are de-fatted. Everything is a little bit lighter and more healthy, but it still tastes good.”

Sherry left Las Posas Country Club in mid-September to take the executive chef position at the Radisson Hotel in Agoura Hills. His sous chef at Las Posas, Alfonso Arechiga, himself a former executive chef at the Pierpont, filled Sherry’s old position.

Sherry worked at the Radisson for a short time before joining the Pierpont on Dec. 20. He said he welcomed the opportunity to spend a couple of weeks working shoulder to shoulder with Ludwig, before taking over.

“Louis has kind of showed me the ropes, so hopefully the transition will be a smooth one,” said Sherry. “Half the time a chef comes into a new job, it’s a big mess. It’s really nice to come in and have everything organized.”

Ludwig and Sherry both shared the kitchen duties for the Pierpont’s Christmas dinner, and will work together again on New Year’s Eve. Dubbed “A Grand Affair,” the year-end dinner should be a fitting finale for Ludwig.

The menu for the evening will open with a choice of four appetizers, including prosciutto with melon and figs, basil mousse in phyllo with fresh fruit salsa, shrimp cocktail and smoked vegetables with polenta.

Appetizers will be followed by a choice of soup or salad. The chefs will prepare New England clam chowder, pumpkin and roasted red pepper bisque, Caesar salad, and goat cheese and greens salad with walnut vinaigrette.

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For the entree, diners can choose from herb-roasted rack of lamb, bacon-wrapped filet mignon served with artichoke-herb sauce, pastry-encrusted Norwegian salmon Wellington in a ginger bearnaise sauce, or grilled breast of pheasant marinated in rosemary.

Dessert will be a choice of bourbon pecan creme brulee, hazelnut mousse with peach Tatin, chocolate-almond cheesecake with pear gratin, and fresh berries laced with Grand Marnier and Campari.

Cost of the dinner is $55, which includes a glass of champagne, music and dancing. Seating is between 5:30 and 9 p.m. Call 643-6144.

Leo Smith is a regular contributor to Ventura County Weekend. Write to him at 93 S. Chestnut St., Ventura 93001, or send faxes to 653-7576.