SMALL BITES STAR CHEF JOINS BISTRO.

Byline: - Larry Lipson

Peter Roelant, who gained local celebrity chef status with stints at L'Orangerie and Four Oaks, has joined affable owner-host Jean-Bernard ``J.B.'' Torchon as chef-partner at Torchon's Wine Bistro, 11915 Ventura Blvd. in Studio City.

Roelant, a former protege of famed Swiss chef Fredy Girardet and a Valley resident for 16 years, is already introducing some of the restaurant's daily specials while working on a revised menu featuring modern bistro fare.

Roelant, accustomed to preparing expensive, upscale food, said he welcomes the challenge of producing superior-quality dishes while keeping prices in the moderate category.

He expects to introduce Wine Bistro's new menu after Thanksgiving.

Information: [phone] and www.winebistro.net.

TALKING TURKEY: Thanksgiving Day, just around the corner on Nov. 23, can be celebrated by the family as a hotel brunch, a sit-down restaurant dinner or a hotel buffet dinner.

There's also one restaurant in town doing a special singles buffet dinner for Thanksgiving.

Cafe Sierra at the Universal City Hilton at 555 Universal Hollywood Drive, Universal City, offers a champagne brunch ($40, ages 3-10 $20) from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. For dinner, there's a seafood and prime rib buffet plus turkey and all the trimmings from 5 to 10 p.m. ($46, ages 3-10 $22). Information and reservations: [phone].

Pinot Bistro, 12969 Ventura Blvd., Studio City, has a four-course dinner ($42, under 10 $20) with four options on both the second and main courses. Information and reservations: [phone].

Republic, the new restaurant at 650 N. La Cienega Blvd., West Hollywood, is presenting an ``orphan'' Thanksgiving buffet ($30) in its M Lounge. Information and reservations: [phone].

The poshest turkey-to-go dinner in town can be had from the Hotel Bel-Air, 701 Stone Canyon Road, Bel-Air, for $350 (feeds six) with a 48-hour advance reservation needed. Details: [phone].

Other recommendable Thanksgiving dinner choices include Cafe del Rey, 4451 Admiralty Way, Marina del Rey, [phone]; Jar, 8225 Beverly Blvd., [phone]; Taix French Restaurant, 1911 Sunset Blvd., [phone]; La Cachette, 10506 Santa Monica Blvd., West L.A., [phone]; Melisse, 1104 Wilshire Blvd., Santa Monica, [phone]; La Boheme, 8400 Santa Monica Blvd., West Hollywood, [phone]; and JiRaffe, 502 Santa Monica Blvd., Santa Monica, [phone].

And for those who don't care for turkey and stuffing, there's a New England-style Thanksgiving Day lobster clambake for two ($82.95) at Gladstone's, 17300 Pacific Coast Highway, Pacific Palisades. Information and reservations: [phone].