Paperfish -- fish in paper

If you were wondering what Joachim Splichal's Patina Restaurant Group had in store for the former Maple Drive space in Beverly Hills, they've just announced plans to open seafood-themed Paperfish next month. And taking the helm is executive chef Yianni Koufodontis (pictured), who was executive chef of Greek restaurant Petros in Manhattan Beach.

Paperfish is the name of a small rare tropical fish; it seems unlikely that it will be on the menu -- but there will be fish baked en papillote (in paper) and served tableside. The menu features starters separated into "raw," "warm" and "chilled" and entrees separated into "shell fish," "round fish," "flat fish" (and then there's "weird fish," "funny fish" ... just kidding) and "from the farm" (farmed fish?). Starters include oysters on the half shell with pomegranate-ginger granita, and entrees include steamed turbot with dried fruit couscous and eggplant-oxtail tagine and sautéed skatewing with sunchoke purée, white wine, golden raisins, pine nuts and preserved lemon.

The restaurant will be open for lunch and private parties only until early January, when dinner service is scheduled to begin. 

Paperfish, 345 N. Maple Drive, Beverly Hills, (310) 858-6030.

-- Betty Hallock

Photo by Ken Hively