Holiday Menus for Season’s Eating

Christmas Eve Dining Options: Josie’s chef and owner Josie LeBalch brings out the Campfire Christmas Trout ($19), a roast goose with lingonberry sauce ($26) and dry-aged venison ($32) as entrees on Christmas Eve, in addition to her regular menu. Reservations available for 4:30 to 8:30 p.m.

* Josie, 2424 W. Pico Blvd., Santa Monica; (310) 581-9888.

Hans Rockenwagner sets up his own hand-carved Christmas decorations at his restaurant. He’s also making a three-course menu with choices such as chestnut soup, roasted squab salad, venison loin with red cabbage, salmon Napoleon with spinach and potatoes, and chocolate fondue for two. This costs $47.50. Reservations available for 5 to 9:30 p.m.

* Rockenwagner, Edgemar Complex, 2435 Main St., Santa Monica; (310) 399-6504.

Didier Poirier, chef-owner of 71 Palm, offers his regular menu along with dishes such as Maine lobster with risotto and vanilla-bean sauce ($36), roasted pheasant ($32), Canadian goose with wild rice stuffing ($36) and mushroom ravioli with chestnut puree ($24). He’s open from 5 to 9:30 p.m.

* 71 Palm, 71 N. Palm St., Ventura; (805) 653-7222.

Chang’s in Brentwood has a four-course Chinese menu for Christmas Eve. It starts with wonton soup, shrimp rolls and egg rolls. The entrees are sesame shrimp, beef with asparagus, crispy orange chicken, and string beans with shiitake mushrooms. The price is $19.95 per person, served family style to a minimum of two people. Chang’s will be open from 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.

* Chang’s, 11726 San Vicente Blvd., Brentwood; (310) 207-2295.

Pooch’s puts out a four-course menu with options such as a wild mushroom tart, baby spinach salad with candied onions, salmon baked in escarole and pecan torte. The tab is $52 plus tax and tip. Reservations available for 6 to 8 p.m.

* Pooch’s, 260 Portofino Way, Redondo Beach; (310) 372-1202.

Christmas Day Dining: Jeff Peterson, owner of Geoffrey’s in Malibu, has his Christmas present already. He’s acquired Rix restaurant in Santa Monica and will be turning it into his brand of American restaurant, to be called Union. More on that later. At Geoffrey’s, he’s open on Christmas Day with a three-course menu of choices such as crab chowder, chestnut soup, grilled rib-eye with asparagus, crispy salmon with mustard, lemon crepe and creme brulee. The price is $50. Hours are 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.

* Geoffrey’s, 27400 Pacific Coast Highway, Malibu; (310) 457-1519.

Delmonico’s is serving a variety of three-course menus on Christmas Day. Depending on which entree you choose, the price runs from $28.95 to $41.95. The meals include soup or salad and dessert. Some of the entrees are grilled filet mignon, seared veal chop, osso buco and sea bass in a potato crust. The regular menu will also be available. Dickensian carolers will entertain. Reservations available for 4 to 8 p.m.

* Delmonico’s Seafood Grille, 9320 W. Pico Blvd., L.A.; (310) 550-7737.

Enrico Glaudo at Locanda del Lago does Christmas Italian-style with a four-course menu that can be paired with wines. It begins with duckling crespella and then spiny lobster tortelloni. The entree is either a pan-roasted sturgeon filet or braised lamb shank. Dessert is an Italian Christmas log. The price is $39 for food only or $57 for food and four wines. It’s open from 4 to 10 p.m.

* Locanda del Lago, Third Street Promenade, 231 Arizona Ave., Santa Monica; (310)451-3525.

Chez Melange offers a four-course meal with dishes like potato-leek soup, portabello mushroom and goat cheese salad and duck ravioli. Depending on which main course you choose, the price runs from $29.95 (for turkey with trimmings) to $39.95 (for filet of beef with lobster mashed potatoes and bearnaise sauce). Service is from 1:30 to 8 p.m. On Sunday, Chez Melange is making a children’s Christmas tea party with puppeteers. Tea sandwiches and miniature desserts are the menu. It runs from 2:30 to 5 p.m., and costs $40 for adults and $25 for children.

* Chez Melange, Palos Verdes Inn, 1716 Pacific Coast Highway, Redondo Beach; (310)540-1222.

Reach Angela Pettera at (310) 358-7647 or pettera@prodigy.net