SMALL BITES EXPLORE THE MENU AT CHESTER'S ASIA.

Byline: - Larry Lipson

The 43 year-old Chester's Asia, 2216 Pickwick Drive, Camarillo, a venerable Chinese restaurant with an elegantly decorated interior but located in a nondescript shopping mall, has introduced its Explorer's Dinner.

This is a dinner for four or more at $19.95 per person featuring several interesting dishes.

They include a choice of house wine, shrimp salad, boiled wontons in hot sauce, imperial soup, scallops with vegetables, shrimp with walnuts, ``homey'' black pepper steak, sauteed chicken with smoked pork and black mushrooms, salt and pepper pork chops, a chicken basil leaf casserole and a special ice cream dessert.

Information: [phone].

FROM THE MAILBOX: Valley Village readers Nathan and Rose Bass Elbaum sends a restaurant tip: Tangy Thai 2, 7363 W. Sunset Blvd., [phone].

The Elbaums like its wonton soup, garlic shrimp, barbecued chicken, spare ribs and bread pudding.

NIBBLES & SIPS: Where's the best cup of coffee in the L.A. area? According to Food & Wine magazine, it's Aloha Island, 153 S. Beverly Drive, Beverly Hills, [phone]. (My choice: Jennifer's Coffee Connection, 4397 Tujunga Ave., Studio City, [phone]. ... Now being poured at Fleming's, the prime steak house at 6373 Topanga Canyon Blvd., Woodland Hills, as well as at other Fleming's, is the 2002 Kelly Fleming cabernet sauvignon, the first release from founder Paul Fleming and wife Kelly's Napa Valley vineyard. Information: [phone]. ... Currently featuring daurade (bream) in red wine, The Restaurant at Hotel Bel-Air, 701 Stone Canyon Road, Bel-Air, will spotlight truffles and asparagus in March and April, cherries in May, lavender in June, heirloom tomatoes in July, peaches in August, figs in September, oysters in October, Nantucket Bay scallops in November and white truffles in December. Information: [phone]. ... Chipotle Mexican Grill has unveiled its latest outlet, at 110 S. Fairfax Ave., at the far end of The Grove shopping and dining complex. Information: [phone] or www.chipotle.com. ... Brian P. Frakes, with credits from top restaurant kitchens in Florida, has snagged the executive chef's job at the Bel Age Hotel, 1020 N. San Vicente Blvd., West Hollywood. Frakes oversees both Diaghilev Lounge and Ten20 Cafe there. Information: 310-854-1111. ... Pitfire Pizza Co., an obvious success at 5211 Lankershim Blvd., North Hollywood, has opened a second location downtown at 108 W. Second St., at the corner of Main Street. Information: NoHo: [phone]; downtown: [phone].