Ojai Cook Center Presentation Is a Gas

A sign on the door of fusion at pdc, the restaurant in the Pacific Design Center, reads “temporarily closed.” For legal reasons, the corporate office of the Design Center won’t comment on its Japanese tenant’s situation.

But fusion’s shutdown put the pinch on its neighbor, the Ojai Cook Culinary Center, when its gas got switched off by mistake. What would have rattled most cooks didn’t faze guest chef Anne Rosenzweig, who was scheduled to teach last Friday.

The innovative chef-owner of Arcadia and Lobster Club in New York sailed through recipes with the help of two electric fry pans and an electric grill, all the while answering questions and dispensing tips and opinions.

She has no favorite olive oil. “I change all the time. Whatever’s the best at a reasonable price.” Truffle oil? “A Band-Aid for bad dishes. It’s so overpowering.” Dining recommendations in New York? “For special occasions I like Lespinasse in the St. Regis Hotel. The dining room is big. That may put some people off, but not me. It’s beautiful dining. Since it is in a hotel, they can afford the best. They don’t need to make money.” American Place? “Great for Thanksgiving.”

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Hello/Goodbye: Patina’s executive chef Michael Otsuka begins at Spago this Wednesday, confirms Wolfgang Puck. He will step into the position left by former executive chef Francois Kwaku-Dongo, who opens Spago Chicago Nov. 20.

No one has been named yet to fill Otsuka’s spot. “I do it,” Patina’s owner/executive chef Joachim Splichal says. “We’ve always had two executive chefs. And I’m the other one.”

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Flash in the Pan: It’s just 3 months old, but Atlantic Restaurant in L.A. already has a new chef and a new menu. It’s all according to plan, insist managing partners Bob and John Long. Chef Philippe Trosch was hired to design the first menu and open the restaurant with chef Olivier Bouillot. Since Trosch’s departure, Bouillot can take most of the credit for the latest menu that includes his crispy duck salad and baked forest mushroom dumplings.

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Earplugs No Longer Necessary: Joe Miller, owner of Joe Joe’s in Sherman Oaks, has just shelled out $2,000 for cloth-covered fiberglass panels to reduce the noise level in the dining room. It took a Long Beach firm just one week to do the job. Was the investment worth it? “Yes,” Miller says. “Regulars like the change, but they’re not sure what we did.”

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Close-Knit: Eight of L.A.’s young up-and-coming chefs will share food tips, present signature dishes and match each with wines at a dinner for 30 guests on Monday. Chefs include Neal Fraser (Boxer), Sam Marvin (Modada), Verite Mazzola (formerly of Drago) and Josiah Citrin (JiRaffe).

* Monday at 7 p.m. Bar Marmont, 8171 Sunset Blvd., L.A. (213) 650-0575. $125.

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Such a Deal: Noah Alper, founder of Noah’s New York Bagels (which, if you haven’t noticed, are popping up all over the L.A. area), is thanking loyal customers by offering free bagels--one per customer, through Oct. 16. No purchase necessary. But if you buy six bagels, you get six free. . . . On Monday evenings, diners can save big bucks on wine when Sonora Cafe (180 S. La Brea Ave.) offers bottles from its list at just $1 over cost. . . . The Source (8301 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood) celebrates its 30th anniversary today through Sunday with lunch and dinner specials. Grilled chicken breast or Magic Mushrooms, a vegetarian entree, plus fresh berry cobbler will set you back only $6.95. . . . On Thursdays throughout October, during Gladstone’s annual Lobsterfest, the restaurant will offer the red spiny creatures at “the lowest market price.” For the going rate, call (310) GL4-FISH. . . . Chef George Mavrothalassitis from Four Seasons Maui and Carrie Nabedian, executive chef of the Four Seasons, Beverly Hills, have created a five-course island-inspired menu for this evening and Saturday ($75).

* Four Seasons Hotel, 300 S. Doheny Drive, Beverly Hills. (310) 273-2222.