GOOD TASTES.

ZAGAT 2003 RESTAURANT SURVEY OUT: Zagat has just released the 17th edition of its Los Angeles Restaurant Survey and a companion L.A. restaurant map. Matsuhisa was ranked L.A.'s top restaurant for food for the fourth consecutive year. It was followed on the list by Sushi Sasabune and Sushi Nozawa. Each received a food rating of 28 (out of a possible 30). Cafe Bizou (with a trio of locations - Sherman Oaks, Pasadena and Santa Monica) was rated most popular restaurant, followed by the Cheesecake Factory (various locations) and Campanile. Diaghilev received the nod for best service again this year - and Bel-Air Hotel was again voted the best decor. Top value (best buy) dining spots were led by In-N-Out Burger, Noah's N.Y. Bagels and Lamonica's N.Y. Pizza. Angelini Osteria (with 26 for food) was the best newcomer.

The 2003 Los Angeles Restaurant Survey is $11.95; the map is $6.95. Look for them at bookstores, or order online at www.zagat.com or by calling [phone].

- Natalie Haughton

TUREEN AND BOWLS WITH GARDEN LOOK: This gourd-styled ware for soups and stews (and other dishes) looks like it came from the garden. The hand-painted tureens and bowls (from the Williams-Sonoma catalog) come in either green or pumpkin color and are oven, microwave and dishwasher safe. The 3-quart tureen is $48. A set of four soup bowls is $48. A special set with tureen and four bowls is on special for $79. Shipping and handling is additional. To order, call [phone] or go to www.williams-sonoma.com.

- N.H.

FOUR DIAMOND RESTAURANT AWARDS: Ten Los Angeles County restaurants have earned the AAA Four Diamond Award, the organizations highest rating for quality, according to the Automobile Club of Southern California. They include the following (with the number of consecutive years each restaurant has earned the award); Saddle Peak Lodge, Calabasas (six years); Gennaro's Ristorante, Glendale (three years); the Dining Room (Regent Beverly Wilshire hotel, Beverly Hills - eight years); Gardens (Four Seasons Hotel, Los Angeles - eight years); Patina, Los Angeles (12 years); the Restaurant (Hotel Bel-Air - five years); L'Orangerie, Los Angeles (two years); jerne restaurant (Ritz-Carlton Hotel, Marina del Rey - two years); Valentino, Santa Monica (eight years); Diaghilev (Wyndham Bel Age Hotel, West Hollywood - 11 years).

According to the Auto Club, AAA's Diamond rating program is the only hotel and restaurant review system in the nation that uses specially trained full-time field representatives. As part of AAA's national network, the Auto Club's staff reviews establishments in Southern California without prior notification, using objective and detailed rating procedures.

- N.H.

FREEBIE LEAFLET

Want some fun food ideas for Halloween festivities? Get a copy of Tricks for Your Treats. You can whip up a creepy crawler with round crackers, cream cheese and pepperoni for the body, a mushroom cap for the head and green onions, capers, olives and red pepper for the face and decoration. Or make monster sandwiches, a freaky frankie, a werewolf pizza or goblin cheese ball. Some of the creations are pretty funny - and no doubt kids would enjoy adding their own special touches. For a free copy, send a self-addressed stamped envelope to Hormel Pepperoni Halloween Brochure, P.O. Box 270071, Minneapolis, MN 55427.

- N.H.

DINING OUT

Entrepreneurial chef Fred Eric - with two established restaurants, Vida and Fred 62, near each other in the Los Feliz district - has moved west to Beverly Hills. His latest venture is Airstream Diner, open round the clock.

Eric got the Airstream people - makers of the aluminum-skinned recreational vehicles - to invest in his new eatery, situated in a former Asia restaurant site on Little Santa Monica Boulevard. And it's not mere coffee, malts and shakes heading up the beverage possibilities, but a full bar and a wine list with a dozen labels.

But then, Eric has never been known to follow the crowd.

Airstream's kitchen, for example, turns out a global selection of noodles ranging from his version of mac 'n' cheese ($7.50) to a buckwheat soba dish ($8.95).

For the a.m. crowd, there are egg plates as well as tofu scrambles, pancakes and cereals ($2.50 to $9.50).

Sandwiches galore include burgers and hot dogs ($3.75 to $11). Salads highlighted by Eric's well-known Thai Cobb (introduced at Vida) run from $5.50 to $12.50.

Airstream Diner is located at 9601 Little Santa Monica Blvd., Beverly Hills. Information: [phone].

- Larry Lipson

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