Asparagus Side Dishes--and Schnapps?

Celebrating Asparagus: Beginning now and running through the month of June, Rockenwagner in Santa Monica is deep in the throes of its annual all-asparagus menu (not to fear, they’re serving the regular menu as well). For owner-chef Hans Rockenwagner, asparagus can only be the fat white stalks from the Baden-Wurttemberg region of Germany. He’s flying the prized (and very expensive) asparagus in three times a week and is offering the “queen of vegetables” steamed and served with blood orange hollandaise or with crayfish cannelloni and lobster sauce, and with smoked salmon or prosciutto. He’s even found an asparagus schnapps. (Rockenwagner is also serving Easter brunch from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday.) Rockenwagner, 2435 Main St., Santa Monica; (310) 399-6504.

Passover Dinners: Cava is hosting a Sephardic Seder Sunday at 6:30 p.m. Toribio Prado is doing the cooking, while Robin and Roy Rose of Robin Rose ice cream will explain the traditional foods of the holiday. ($55 per person including tax, tip and wine; $30 for children under 13.) Cava, in the Beverly Plaza Hotel, 8384 W. 3rd St., L.A.; (213) 658-8898. . . . On Saturday, La Cachette will serve a Passover menu of matzo ball soup, gefilte fish and smoked salmon, roasted leg of lamb and desserts ($40 per person). An a la carte Easter dinner on Sunday includes Easter eggs with sevruga caviar, honey baked ham and chocolate Easter bunnies. La Cachette, 10506 Little Santa Monica Blvd., Century City; (310) 470-4992.

Easter Brunches: Celebrate with a Japanese-style Easter brunch at A Thousand Cranes, which is serving a Japanese-style Easter brunch from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday. There will be sushi, noodles, tempura, teriyaki, sukiyaki and Japanese and French pastries (adults, $25.95; seniors over 55, $22.95; children under 10, $17.95). A Thousand Cranes in the New Otani Hotel & Garden, 120 S. Los Angeles St., L.A.; (213) 253-9255. . . . Enjoy a Champagne Easter brunch from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Wyndham Bel Age Hotel with a waffle, egg and omelet station, seafood and sushi, pasta, and carving stations. Entrees include eggs Florentine, roasted sea bass and rack of lamb. (Adults $39.95; children $19.95). The Brasserie in the Wyndham Bel Age Hotel, 1020 N. San Vicente Blvd., West Hollywood; (310) 358-7776. . . . Le Chardonnay plans to serve their first Easter dinner from noon until 7 p.m. Sunday. The four-course $36 prix-fixe menu includes appetizers (escargots or peppered salmon, perhaps?) and rotisserie leg of lamb, sea bass, turkey sausage or duck with peppercorn sauce as entrees. Le Chardonnay, 8284 Melrose Ave., L.A.; (213) 655-8880. . . . Pangaea in the Hotel Nikko in Beverly Hills offers a brunch from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. that features not only the Easter Bunny but also Ronald McDonald. Let’s hope no fights break out between the two during the Easter egg hunt. The Paul Kent Jazz Quintet will be playing soft jazz throughout the day. (Adults, $39; children under 12, $19; part of the proceeds will go to benefit Camp Ronald McDonald for Good Times.) Pangaea Restaurant & Bar, 465 S. La Cienega Blvd., Beverly Hills; (310) 246-2100. . . . And in the Valley, the Bistro Garden will offer a special Sunday brunch menu with choice of appetizer (beet and goat cheese Napoleon or linguine with Champagne caviar sauce, e.g.), main course (German apple pancake, eggs Benedict or sesame-crusted salmon with wasabi soy sauce, for example) and dessert at $34 per person. The Bistro Garden at Coldwater, 12950 Ventura Blvd., Studio City; (818) 501-0202.