SMALL BITES CHIPOTLE VEGES OUT.

Byline: Larry Lipson

It isn't easy being a vegetarian.

No, not me. I love meats, poultry, fish. Yeah, and vegetables, too.

I'm referring to vegetarians finding honest vegetarian food in restaurants.

Evidently, something like gelatin, which is an animal by-product, is often used in institutional salad dressings and sauces. And some tomato sauces contain chicken broth bases.

I learned this from material sent to me by Chipotle, the burrito fast-food chain (180 locations nationwide) that denounces those restaurant offenders and appeals to the vegetarian crowd (more than 4.8 million) via such items as its veggie burrito.

Chipotle vows its vegetarian offerings have ``no hidden animal products, additives or extenders.''

Smartly, it doesn't forget the meat of its clientele, carnivores like yours truly. So it also points out that in using free range pork from Niman Ranch (some 15,000 pounds per week), it is the only national fast-food chain to do so.

Incidentally, Chipotle's Niman Ranch pork (carnitas) is ``seasoned with juniper berries, thyme, bay leaves and fresh cracked black pepper.''

There's a local Chipotle at 5430 Topanga Canyon Blvd., Woodland Hills.

Information: [phone].

TRIPLE BILL: All of a sudden there must have been a realization of the dearth of really good Mexican restaurants in the Los Angeles area, especially on the Westside, where only La Serenata de Garibaldi in Santa Monica and its casual offspring La Serenata Gourmet in West L.A., reign supreme.

Yet it is Casa Antigua Cantina in West L.A., replacing the Bicycle Shop Cafe at 12217 Wilshire Blvd., that opened first, beating to the punch both Tres Margaritas, hoping to debut in two to three weeks at 10543 W. Pico Blvd., also in West L.A., and Frida, named after artist Frida Kahlo, which intends to open next week at 236 S. Beverly Drive, Beverly Hills.

The latter has hired Mexico City chef Yerika Munoz.

Tres Margaritas, previously Primi, is owned by Pepe Ruiz, longtime bartender at the original Chasen's during its peak years, when he became the pal and confidante of the stars who frequented the legendary restaurant.

For information, call Casa Antigua at [phone], Frida at [phone] and Tres Margaritas at [phone].

NAPKIN NOTES: A recent cheese platter experienced at Ca' del Sole, 4100 Caheunga Blvd., North Hollywood, had Lombardian taleggio, sfizio from Lazio, a dolce (sweet) gorgonzola, pecorino, 18-month-old parmigiano reggiano with aged balsamic vinegar and mostarda di cremona with candied fruit in mustard seed oil. Information and reservations: [phone]. ... Santa Clarita has a new Olive Garden with a Tuscan farmhouse design at 27003 McBean Parkway. Information: [phone].