Vacation Is Over for Pagani’s New Chef

George Gets Claude: Pagani on Melrose Avenue has snagged Claude Segal for its kitchen. Segal had worked at Drai’s in West Hollywood until it closed in November, at which time, he says, “I took a nice break--I needed it.” In no hurry to don chef’s whites again, Segal chose his new position with care. He didn’t want to go anywhere trendy (“I’ve paid my dues with that”). The new Pagani dinner menu--California cuisine with French and Asian touches--debuts on Tuesday. After that, Segal’s first private booking is Elton John’s Oscar party.

* Pagani, 8800 Melrose Ave., West Hollywood; (310) 858-5801.

Hot Rocks: A new Pasadena restaurant, Boomerock, cooks on rocks. Yep; this is an Australian aboriginal cooking technique from down under. A slab of granite heated to 700 degrees is brought to your table in a ceramic tray along with a plate of raw entree makings: beef, chicken, fish, shrimp, lamb or even ostrich. The cooking, which is smokeless and uses no oil, takes from about 15 to 30 minutes. (The appetizers, side dishes and dipping sauces are all prepared for you in the kitchen, giving chef Ron Lento something to do.) There’s live entertainment to keep you from getting bored while your entree sizzles away. And, of course, there’s a gift shop full of Australian and aboriginal items. Boomerock is now open for lunch and dinner daily.

* Boomerock Restaurant, 61 N. Raymond Ave., Pasadena; (626) 440-0088.

Jon Gets Fred: Remember when Fred Eric of Vida in Los Feliz wanted to take over the Tom Bergin’s location and make it a steak house called Jeeve’s Grill Club? His leasing deal fell through, but he’s still going to get his own steak house--only at Dominick’s in West Hollywood. Dominick’s owner Jon Sidell recently split with his partners and offered Eric a stake, as it were, in Dominick’s, so Eric will install his steak menu there along with a former sous-chef of his, Matt Dickson, in about two weeks. Says Eric, “We’re going to maintain a level of supper club, but the emphasis will be on the supper, not the club.” Vida’s sommelier, Sylvie Lalay, will create Dominick’s new wine list.

* Dominick’s, 8715 Beverly Blvd., West Hollywood; (310) 557-1654.

Beachfront Bay House: Kicking off the attempted revitalization of Redondo Beach Pier is the opening of Kincaid’s Bay House, which serves dishes like rock-salt-roasted prime rib and grilled salmon--and drinks like martinis and Rob Roys. Decor runs to marble, mirrors and warm woods, plus a 360-decree view of the ocean. The patio just opened up recently.

* Kincaid’s Bay House, 500 Fisherman’s Wharf, Redondo Beach; (310) 318-6080.

What a Hoot: As of Wednesday, even more buxom babes are strutting around Santa Monica in scanty clothing. How’s that? A Hooters restaurant has opened just off the Third Street Promenade. The combination of spicy chicken wings and voluptuous waitresses in midriff-baring T-shirts has added up to 230 Hooters locations around the world. And this is too perfect--one of the owners of this first L.A. County location is Douglas Schwartz, executive producer and co-creator of “Baywatch.” He got interested in the concept when he was in Florida several years ago working on a project where the whole company used to relax at Hooters. “The reason it’s such a fun concept,” he says, “is that the waitresses are very interactive with the customers.” And where else but L.A. can you find such a large pool of beautiful women willing to wear short shorts? Schwartz and two partners plan to open eight more Hooters here, beginning with Long Beach, Pasadena and Northridge locations. The Santa Monica Hooters will be open for lunch and dinner every day beginning at 11 a.m.

* Hooters, 321 Santa Monica Blvd., Santa Monica; (310) 458-7555.

Money Under the Palms: Twin Palms in Pasadena is hosting a benefit party on Sunday to raise money for a new complex for the American Center for Wine, Food and the Arts in Napa. Chefs for the evening include Ken Frank of La Toque and Sean Knight of Pinot Blanc (both Napa Valley), Joe Miller of Joe’s (Venice) and Tony Zidar of Twin Palms. Each of the meal’s courses will be paired with wine. Guests of honor are Julia Child and Robert Mondavi. The evening begins at 6:30 p.m. Tickets, which cost $125 per person, may be purchased by calling (707) 257-3606, or by contacting Twin Palms. Ask for the Pleasure Under the Palms event.

* Twin Palms, 101 W. Green St., Pasadena; (626) 577-2567.

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