SMALL BITES ITALIAN CHEF'S SPECIAL MENU.

Byline: - Larry Lipson

Chef-owner Eugenio Spano of Bric Montrose, 2833 Honolulu Ave., Verdugo City, who met the renowned Italian chef Cesare Giaccone when he (Spano) was working at Rex Il Ristorante several years ago, will renew the acquaintanceship when Giaccone comes to cook at Bric Feb. 11 and 12.

Giaccone, who owns Da Cesare restaurant in the Piedmont region of Italy, is bringing his two sons, chef Oscar Giaccone and sommelier Filippo Giaccone, to help him on these two special nights. On Feb. 9, they also will be making a one-night guest appearance at Angelini Osteria, 7313 Beverly Blvd.

All three dinners include wines and are ticketed at $150 for each one.

At Bric, the first dinner emphasizes the visiting chef's own handmade barolo wine vinegar.

His roasted duck breast entree utilizes a barolo wine vinegar sauce, and a prior course offers young rooster, also boosted by the barolo vinegar. Steamed seafood in a wine vinegar dressing provides another course.

A barolo wine-inspired menu the following night presents Giaccone's renditions of cuttlefish with eggplant, duck ravioli and pork shank with black cabbage.

Bric information and reservations: [phone]. Angelini information and reservations: [phone].

BIGGER RED'S: One of Simi Valley's most popular restaurants, Red's Barbecue & Grillery, has moved to larger quarters in the same shopping center. The new address is 3090 Cochrane St.

Red's, going strong in Simi since the mid-'80s, has a second location in Westlake Village.

Information:[phone].

NAPKIN NOTES: Picked to represent Cuban food at the May 7 James Beard Foundation's annual journalism awards bash in New York is Xiomara Ardolina of the Xiomara restaurants in Pasadena and Los Angeles. She will be one of four guest chefs. ... Free pancakes by Norms restaurant chefs will be offered at Bloomingdale's in Century City between 1 and 3 p.m. Feb. 13 to celebrate Norms' 55th year in business. ... The big wine, food and tennis festival in Indian Wells April 2-4 features some of L.A.'s top chefs (Celestino Drago of Drago, Mary Sue Milliken and Susan Feniger of Border Grill, and Lee Hefter and Sherry Yard of Spago). Tickets: [phone]. ... Sicilian cookbook author Anna Tasca Lanza, whose family produces Regaleali estate wines in central Sicily, will be feted at Valentino restaurant, 3115 Pico Blvd., Santa Monica, Feb. 26 by owner-hosts Piero and Stacey Selvaggio. ... Some 600 Panda Express locations nationwide celebrate the Chinese New Year through Feb. 21 with firecracker shrimp and pork ribs in black bean sauce. Also, lucky chocolate coins will be distributed at the Pandas while supplies last. ... On Saturday, Bubba Gump Shrimp opens its first Southern California location in Long Beach at 87 Aquarium Way. Future locations are set for Santa Monica and Anaheim.