From the Continent and the Island Too

The Continental: A few weeks ago a restaurant opened with an old idea: Euro-cuisine. Europa identifies menu items by their country of origin. Main courses include a Donau schnitzel from Germany ($20), peanut-crusted lamb from France (or so it says here; it’s $27) and lobster in a creamy white wine sauce from Spain ($34). Chef Roushdy Shenouda, originally from Egypt, was recruited from Cullen Ranch, a sort of hunting spa in Texas. He’s worked with all kinds of game and plans to expand Europa’s menu. “It was a challenge for me to come to L.A. because there are a lot of good restaurants here,” Shenouda tells us, “but I’m up to it.” Europa is open for dinner nightly.

* Europa, 401 N. La Cienega Blvd., L.A.; (310) 652-7000.

The Pig Is Back, and He Brought His Whistle: Chris Breed and Alan Hajjar, who own the Sunset Room in Hollywood, have reopened the old Pig ‘n Whistle, which first opened in 1927. English-born Breed has restored the Pig’s old ceiling beams, the plaster light sconces, the stained-glass windows and the original marquee showing a pig playing a fife. (“Pig ‘n Whistle” is a pun on the medieval English spiced wine drink wassail and the piggin, or cup, it was traditionally served in.) There is definitely pork on the menu, which offers a glazed roasted young pig ($18) at dinner along with osso buco ($23.50), shepherd’s pie ($15) and grilled chicken with roasted garlic ($16). At lunch there are lots of salads ($7 to $12.50) and sandwiches ($7.50 to $13). It’s open for lunch and dinner every day except Sunday. After 10 p.m. it becomes a martini bar by the name of NuBar.

* Pig ‘n Whistle, 6714 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood; (323) 463-0000.

Cuatro de Mayo: The Palm restaurant is celebrating Cinco de Mayo this year, but on May 4. There’ll be a dinner buffet of filet mignon tacos, tostadas, steak fajitas, shrimp in hot salsa, chicken burritos and quesadillas. Patron tequila will be poured all night at this cocktail-style party, where you’ll mostly be standing and sipping. The price is $60. Call Jessica Kase to reserve a space with a credit card.

* The Palm, 9001 Santa Monica Blvd., West Hollywood; (310) 550-8811.

The Pan-Asian restaurant Typhoon will have a Latin American buffet lunch May 4, also missing the holiday by 24 hours. Many of the dishes will be the staff’s family recipes from Mexico (and also Peru, Guatemala and El Salvador). The buffet, served from noon to3 p.m., will offer menudo, ceviche, chile rellenos, tamales, pork fajitas, chicken tacos and more. The price is $15.

* Typhoon, at the Santa Monica Airport, 3221 Donald Douglas Loop South, Santa Monica; (310) 390-6565.

Pull Out That Wallet: UCLA’s Jonsson Cancer Center Foundation once again throws “An Epicurean Evening” at the Pacific Palisades estate of Dennis Tito (he’s the guy paying Russia to blast him into space later this month). This fund-raiser happens at 6 p.m. May 5. Five chefs are donating their time: Michel Cornu of Far Niente Winery (Napa Valley), hors d’oeuvres; Hubert Keller of Fleur de Lys (San Francisco), first course; Julian Serrano of Picasso (Bellagio Hotel, Las Vegas), second course; Daniel Boulud (Daniel, New York City), third course; and Sherry Yard (Spago Beverly Hills), dessert. Far Niente has donated wines for the night. Dinner will be on the tennis court under a tent; the silent auction will take place on the lawn; and cocktails will be served throughout the ground floor of the house. Dress: cocktail attire. Tickets are $1,250 per person; proceeds go to the Jonsson Cancer Center to fund cancer research. To purchase them or for more information, call Polly Diaz, (310) 794-7643.

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Angela Pettera can be reached at (213) 237-3153 or at pettera@prodigy.net.