Let the Good Times Roll

New Chef at Fenix: Fenix has itself a new chef in 27-year-old Brandon Boudet of New Orleans. Despite obligatory cooking stints with Paul Prudhomme and Emeril Lagasse, Boudet mostly cooks American with touches of both New Orleans and California cuisine thrown in. His menu (with lower prices than Fenix’s old menu) includes dinner entrees such as rice-paper-wrapped tuna and marinated pork tenderloin with stewed greens and caramelized sweet potatoes; they run between $15 and $25, lunch entrees $10-$18. New pastry chef Melanie Johnston from Vida arrives this week.

* Fenix at the Argyle Hotel, 8358 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood; (213) 654-7100.

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DickensonDowntown: Dickenson-West in Pasadena has reproduced itself not too far from downtown in the old Cafe Berlin space at the Brewery, an old Pabst brewery that has been turned into about 350 artists’ studios. Chef Robert Luna executes the breakfast and lunch menus in the DickensonWest bistro food style, but with his own interpretation. There’s a full coffee/espresso bar with desserts provided by the Pasadena DickensonWest. Most of the dining space is on the terrace, good news for smokers who like art. Right now the Brewery location is only open from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m., Monday-Friday; dinner and weekend dining are in the works. A liquor license is also on the way.

* DickensonWest at the Brewery, 620 Moulton Ave., #110, L.A.; (213) 221-9204.

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A New Brazilian in Town: The recently opened Itana Bahia in West Hollywood serves food from the Bahia region on Brazil’s northeast coast, a region famous for strong African influence. Bahian-born owner Itana Dorea has brought in a Brazilian chef (Joa~o Carlos) and decorated the place with Bahian musical instruments and symbols of Brazilian and African spirits. The cuisine is seafood-based, with lots of shrimp and fish dishes, but you can also get Brazilian-style steaks. Entrees range $8.95-$15.95 at dinner, $4.95-$7.95 at lunch (salads, sandwiches). Closed Mondays. Sunday brunch 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

* Itana Bahia, 8711 Santa Monica Blvd., W. Hollywood; (310) 657-6306.

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Mardi Gras With Victor: Victor Hodd’s is throwing a Mardi Gras party that runs today through Fat Tuesday (Feb. 24). Each day features a different Louisiana dinner special--shrimp Creole, jambalaya, fried catfish, blackened soft-shell crabs--but you can get oysters, crawfish and gumbo as appetizers any day, and King cake, bananas Foster and coconut layer cake (among other things) for dessert. Every meal is served with pralines and divinity. Zydeco music is on the sound system, Mardi Gras beads will be tossed around and T-shirts will be passed out (they’re hoping you won’t be).

* Victor Hodd’s, 7953 Santa Monica Blvd., West Hollywood; (213) 822-9652.

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Wally Joe Has Heart: House of Blues is continuing its guest chef series for 1998 (a series that showcases chefs noted by the James Beard Foundation). On Monday, chef Wally Joe of KC’s in Cleveland, Miss., will be cooking Southern food with (hmm) Asian touches. A champagne reception begins the evening in the Foundation Room at 7 p.m.; dinner is served at 7:45. To Beard Foundation members and HOB Foundation members, the price is $85 a person. To others, it’s $100. For reservations call (213) 650-0242. House of Blues, 8439 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood; (213) 848-5100.

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New Rotisserie, New Name: The Brentwood place that opened as Houston’s a year and a half back is now called Bandera. The chain, Houston’s Restaurants, is trying a new concept that centers on rotisserie grilling and regional American dishes. The name “Bandera” (Spanish for flag) seems to be an attempt at a catchy but still low-key, not to say nondescript, name. Food-wise, you can now find chicken spit-roasted over a wood fire along with rotisserie lamb and grilled fish (thanks to that newly installed rotisserie). The regional element includes beef back ribs, black bean chicken chili, wild mushroom meatloaf and skillet corn bread. Bandera is open for dinner every night and the menu is available to go.

* Bandera, 11700 Wilshire Blvd., Brentwood; (310) 477-3524.

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Let the Lunching Begin: Miss Gregory’s American Kitchen, a home-cookin’ joint on Sunset, is doing lunch again with a new menu. The lunch hours are 12 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday-Friday. Chef/owner Kurt Struwe cooks home-style classics like meatloaf sandwiches and broccoli potato soup; lunch entree prices run $4.95-$8.95.

* Miss Gregory’s American Kitchen, 7986 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood; (213) 822-9057.