A Needed Lesson in Table Manners

Hang up and nibble. Dining at the Peninsula Hotel in Beverly Hills, a popular spot for chattering show biz types--writer Pat Goldstein saw this warning at the top of the menu: “The use of mobile telephones interferes with the chef’s banana-stuffed brioche French toast.”

Ah--just the kind of appeal a Westsider could take to heart.

MORE FOOD FOR THOUGHT: Howard Crawford noticed that the Kyushu Ramen in Van Nuys restaurant has an artsy neon sign (see photo).

It’s a reference to a painting of a pipe by Belgian surrealist Rene Magritte that is captioned in French, “This is not a pipe.”

I always thought there was something kind of surrealistic about Van Nuys.

THIS IS A MAYOR: His days in City Hall are winding down, but Richard Riordan’s acting credits are mounting.

His Honor recently had a cameo in the made-for-TV movie “The Elian Gonzalez Story,” as a hospital spokesman. (Riordan just can’t get enough of dealing with the media.)

This followed his appearances in local stage productions of “Thank You, Jeeves” (as a blustering millionaire dad) and “Love Letters” (opposite Councilwoman Laura Chick), as well as a bit part on the Nickelodeon channel’s kid show “All That.”

On the TV show, he played a mayor giving out silly commendations (no jokes, please).

IT COMES WITH THE TERRITORY: L.A. mayors in show biz are a tradition. Riordan’s predecessor, Tom Bradley, played himself on the TV detective show “Hunter, “ among others.

And Bradley’s predecessor, Sam Yorty, had a guest role on TV’s “Here’s Lucy” in addition to a banjo-playing gig on the “Tonight Show” with Johnny Carson.

A LICENSE TO SCARE: A rule of life in Southern California, especially with road rage raging, is never glance at the driver next to you.

Maybe it also would be wise to keep your eyes off others’ license plates, just for your own peace of mind.

Jeff Bliss noticed a car near Sacramento with the license plate MADINLA. But he figured the owner was probably in a good mood, being so far from the City of Angels, even if there were limited opportunities for banana-stuffed brioche French toast.

Rich Hackenberg, however, had a Long Beach sighting of a vanity plate that seemed to say don’t mess with me (see photo). I wish I hadn’t, but I checked the DMV Web site www.plates.ca.gov and found 376 licenses in California that contain the word EVIL.

Nine other plates have INSANE variations.

I’m sure there’s a simple, unscary explanation in each case, right?

Same for the dozen or so plates with “road rage” messages (RDRAGE, etc.).

If it’s any consolation, I did find a plate that said RAGENOT.

miscelLAny:

At the Geffen Playhouse in Westwood, Rick Cohen overheard two 50ish women discussing their boyfriends and the superfluity of males in general. “I’m so tired of him,” one said. “I’d really rather have a new kitchen.”

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Steve Harvey can be reached at (800) LATIMES, Ext. 77083, by fax at (213) 237-4712, by mail at Metro, L.A. Times, 202 W. 1st St., L.A., 90012 and by e-mail at steve.harvey@latimes.com.