SMALL BITES FEEDING 1,000 HUNGRY ACTORS.

Byline: Larry Lipson

Celebrity chef Joachim Splichal will be preparing a single-plate meal for 1,090 attendees of the Screen Actors Guild Awards at the Shrine Auditorium on March 10.

Splichal, whose Patina Catering handles the awesome feeding task, showed off his food and place settings at a press conference earlier this week.

Also present was Dry Creek Vineyard owner Kim Stare Wallace, whose wines will be poured at the event along with Taittinger champagne.

At each table setting a colorful square platter was displayed holding a tower of tomato confit, fennel, mozzarella, roasted pepper, zucchini and chervil; Belgian endives with Chinese eggplant and roast chicken; and baby sea bass with artichoke, tapenade and basil on a crispy potato round.

BEVERLY BARGAIN: It seems that $50 per person is the favored price for special Valentine Day dinners.

But there are always one or two shockers.

The most amazing deal is in the heart of expensive Beverly Hills at McCormick & Schmick's, 206 N. Rodeo Drive (at Two Rodeo). Its Valentine's Day special entrees of baked Atlantic salmon in puff pastry or slow-cooked roast beef au jus are only $14.95 each. And dessert for two of hearts of cream (mascarpone cheese and fresh whipped cream) with Grand Marnier chocolate sauce and fresh berries is $3. Yes, that's the price.

Reservations needed: [phone].

EATING FOR TWO: Some restaurants are offering special Valentine dinners for two, like the Napa Valley Grille, 1100 Glendon Ave., Westwood, with two pecan-crusted rack of lamb plates ($60.95), two roasted free-range chicken dishes ($46.95) or two lobster and veal medallion entrees ($64.95). Reservations: [phone].

Also for Valentine's, Typhoon, 3221 Donald Douglas Loop South, at the Santa Monica Airport, has a 2-pound catfish platter for two ($29.95). Reservations: [phone].

NAPKIN NOTES: Surf and turf fanciers (steak or prime rib and lobster) might consider the $99-per-couple complete dinner at the Buggy Whip, 7420 La Tijera Blvd., Westchester. Reservations: [phone]. ... Chocolate-covered strawberries go to Valentine diners after dinner at Cha Cha Cha Encino, 17499 Ventura Blvd. Reservations: [phone]. ... One of the dessert options on the three-course, $50 dinner at the new Union, 1413 Fifth St., Santa Monica, is the appropriately named tropical passion tart. Reservations: [phone]. ... Great romantic-view dining (if it's a clear night) can be had at Windows, atop the Transamerica Center, 1150 S. Olive St., downtown L.A. A four-course (plus champagne toast) meal is $65. Reservations: [phone].