Dr. Huxtable would certainly be proud of his career turn

ALTHOUGH he just turned 35 last month, actor-musician Malcolm-Jamal Warner is a seasoned veteran of the showbiz wars. He’s been a fixture on television since appearing on “Matt Houston” at 12, and most recently has been on the Jason Alexander series “Listen Up.” But his highest-profile run had to be starring in one of the most successful shows in TV history, playing son Theo Huxtable on “The Cosby Show” from 1984 to 1992.

On Sunday, Warner gets to flex his musical muscles fronting the six-piece jazz-funk band Miles Long at the California African American Museum in Exposition Park, part of “Going Back to Our Roots: The Family Reunion,” A daylong program of cultural activities. The band will also play the Temple Bar in Santa Monica on Sept. 23. But the Studio City resident is also planning some leisure activities for the not-so-distant future.

A salmon fix

On Friday nights, I might be playing with my band somewhere. I play stand-up and electric bass. We’re working on mixing and mastering a new CD right now. But if we’re not playing, I’d just keep it simple and head over to the Amazon Bar & Grill in Sherman Oaks. I go to restaurants for specific dishes, and at Amazon I like the salmon with black pepper sauce. It’s fabulous. Then I’d just go home and make it a Blockbuster night or catch up on what I have on my TiVo.

Food and music

On Saturday morning I’ll go out to breakfast, either to Vivian’s in Studio City or Marmalade Cafe in Sherman Oaks. At Marmalade I’d have the scrambled eggs with salmon, but if I’m in a healthier mode, I go to Vivian’s for an egg-white omelet. After that I’d come home and practice my music for a while and then make myself some lunch. I love to cook -- women think it’s really sexy for a man to cook. My kitchen is big and easy to move around in, if I’ve got some friends over. It’s not exactly a designer-showcase type of kitchen, but it’s not strictly functional either. It’s somewhere in between.

Afterward, I might go out to an early movie. In the evening, I’d take a date and end up at Cha Cha Cha in Encino. They have an awesome jerk chicken pizza, and I like the Fidel martinis. After dinner, and depending on how the date is going, I’d probably head back to my house. I burned out on the club scene a long time ago, because I started pretty early.

Time for Mom

On Sunday I like to go to brunch over at Who’s on Third on 3rd Street in L.A. They have an awesome croissant French toast. Then I might go over to the California African American Museum and see what exhibits they have. I’ve done poetry readings there, but this will be the first time I’ve played there with the band. After that I’d go visit my friends and my goddaughter.

In the evening, I would take my mom out to dinner. She loves the Pinot Bistro in Studio City. She likes pretty much anything on the menu. I usually end up with the roast chicken. After that I’d go home and maybe do some writing for the band. I write songs but I don’t sing -- I have vocalists for that. I’m a big believer in “know thy limitations.”

-- Mark Sachs