Welcome Back to Dominick’s

Dominick’s: Undead and Unlisted: You may remember that word was out in late April about plans to revive the classic West Hollywood spot Dominick’s. It’s reopened at last. The chef is Sandy Gendel (Rex, Campanile) and the menu is “coastal Italian.” (Better write down the phone number, by the way. At the moment, it’s unlisted.)

Dominick’s, 8715 Beverly Blvd., West Hollywood; (310) 652-7272.

Latest Tennessee-Style Barbecue News: Daly Thompson is ducking out of Victor Hodd’s in order (he hopes) to open a tiny Memphis-style barbecue shack somewhere on the Westside. Thompson is selling out to partner Tom Doherty. Hodd’s pastry chef, Liz Thompson, will depart with her husband. They don’t leave until the end of August, however, and will stay on as consultants after that. As for Victor Hodd’s, it will be running Southern and barbecue menu specials Aug. 24 to 31 as a last salute to the cooking couple who opened the place about nine months ago. Javier Guttierrez from Cafe D’Etoile will take over as chef.

Victor Hodd’s, 7953 Santa Monica Blvd., West Hollywood; (323) 822-9652.

This Is Not Tex-Mex; Repeat, Not Tex-Mex: Canyon Cafe opened Aug. 10 in Glendale. It’s part of a chain that originated in Dallas, so you can be sure the motif is Southwestern, complete with potted cactuses and tortilla presses on the walls. They call the cuisine Border Rim Regional; that translates to recipes from Arizona, New Mexico, Texas and Mexico. (Warning: You’ll be walking on their fightin’ side if you call it Tex-Mex.) For instance, “desert bar pasta,” which is angel hair pasta topped with mushrooms in a jalapeno cream sauce and served with Parmesan cheese and pico de gallo. There’s also a piece of salmon dropped onto a corn husk that swims in chipotle barbecue sauce. Got it? You won’t find that in a Tex-Mex joint.

Canyon Cafe, 146 S. Brand Blvd., Glendale; (818) 547-9950.

What’s in a Name, Alejo? You might know Alejo Castro from Alejo’s, the casual Argentine-Italian restaurants in Westchester and Marina del Rey. What you may not know is that his ex-wife, Claudia, was awarded both those restaurants in their divorce a couple of years back. So Alejo Castro, left with no restaurants and some time on his hands, opened the Pasta Factory in Marina del Rey last month on Washington Boulevard, right around the corner from Alejo’s. The menu is exactly the same as at the Alejo’s restaurants because, after all, Alejo Castro created them too.

The Pasta Factory, 425 Washington Blvd., Marina del Rey; (310) 823-9838.

It’s a Milan Thing: Cafe K’ Milano just opened on La Cienega Boulevard in Hollywood. Owner Victor Paleologus is from Milan, Italy, where his family has owned a restaurant called Cafe Milano for 35 years. Partner John Uricsh is from Argentina, and so is chef Jorge Valencia. The menu is Italian with Argentine touches, heavy on the seafood and tomatoes. Expect classic Italian dishes like bruschetta, veal Marsala and seafood pasta, along with risotto, poached salmon and salads. At lunch you’ll find individual pizzas and sandwiches made with imported meats.

Cafe K’ Milano, 980 N. La Cienega Blvd., Hollywood; (310) 854-3363.

Among the Organics: More and more L.A. chefs are following, at least to some extent, the Chez Panisse philosophy of using vegetables grown organically, or at least without pesticides. Parkway Grill in Pasadena pulls tomatoes, squash, sweet peppers, eggplant (both Bambino and Japanese), red and green Swiss chard, basil, lemon verbena and raspberries from its own garden on a one-third-acre lot just east of the restaurant. By appointment, you can have a garden tour, during which you and their horticulturist nibble your way through the garden. The produce is sprinkled into daily specials and pizzas, pastas, salads, sides and desserts.

Parkway Grill, 510 S. Arroyo Parkway, Pasadena; (626) 795-1001.

Visit the Garden: Woodside owner Noel Ampel encourages his chef, Dean Max, to cull herbs and vegetables from the 19-acre garden at the Veterans Administration property across the street from the restaurant. Lots of L.A. restaurants buy organic produce there. You can see it for yourself Aug. 30, when the American Institute of Wine and Food hosts a field trip to the garden and a five-course vegetarian luncheon at Woodside. The trek begins at 10:30 a.m.; the tab is $37 a head ($32 for members). Call Roberta Mitchell for reservations (with prepayment) at (310) 535-6090.

Woodside, 11604 San Vicente Blvd., Brentwood; (310) 571-3800.