Eva closes; who’s in at Early Bird and Mercantile; Paiche guest chefs

Goodbye, Eva: Eva chef-owner Mark Gold tells Eater LA that he has opted to sell his Beverly Street restaurant Eva to pursue an opportunity as a partner in a new Manhattan Beach restaurant. Permitting problems over parking spaces and its liquor license plagued Eva last year when Gold sought donations to offset the expenses of filing an appeal after the request for a variance was denied. “Although we will miss Eva ... it was time to find something bigger,” Gold said of the decision to move on.

Early Bird’s new chef: Speaking of moving on, Fullerton restaurant Early Bird announces that Frank DeLoach has succeeded Joseph Mahon as executive chef. A release says Mahon, who was one of a string of notes chefs at erstwhile Bastide on Melrose Place, will now focus on the Burger Parlor in downtown Fullerton. DeLoach was previously chef de partie at Mezze in Los Angeles. When dinner service starts in May, DeLoach’s menu will feature “modern diner food.” A carnival food pop-up dinner is planned for April 5. Early Bird also says it has teamed with the investment group behind Bodhi Leaf Trading Co. and hopes to expand its coffee offerings at new locations in Orange County. 1000B E. Bastanchury Road, Fullerton, (714) 529-4100, www.earlybirdoc.com.

‘Best New Chefs’ at Paiche: Over at Paiche, the yet-to-open restaurant and the blog Food GPS reunite chef Ricardo Zarate with some of his fellow Food & Wine “Best New Chefs” for collaborative dinners that celebrate the opening of the “Peruvian izakaya” in Marina del Rey. Portland’s Naomi Pomeroy of Beast, Jamie Bissonnette of Coppa Enoteca and Toro in Boston, and Viet Pham of Forage in Salt Lake City will join Zarate in the kitchen on March 26 and 27. On Tuesday, March 26, dinner with guest chef Pomeroy will feature a five-course menu ($52) with cocktails ($10) from Pablo Moix and Steve Livigni. And on Wednesday, March 27, Bissonnette and Viet Pham will prepare a six-course menu ($62) with Zarate, with cocktails ($10) from Aidan Demarest and Marcos Tello. Paiche is set to officially open next month. Call the restaurant or email [email protected] for reservations; walk-ins welcome depending on availability. 13488 Maxella Ave., Marina del Rey, (310) 893-6100, www.paichela.com.

New menus at Mercantile: Former “Top Chef”-testant CJ Jacobson is collaborating with George Abou-Daoud on the brunch and dinner menus at the Mercantile in Hollywood. Some of Jacobson’s dishes: farro salad with cucumber, marinated tomato, smoked ricotta salata and sorrel; house-cured Salmon with white beans, escarole, bread crumbs and lemon; macaroni and cheese with kale, oyster mushrooms and Gruyere in bechamel sauce; and poached eggs and savory bread pudding with oyster mushrooms and chile sauce. 6600 W. Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles, (323) 962-8202, www.themercantilela.com.

ALSO:

James Beard Awards: Spot on, or off the mark?

5 Questions for Barbershop’s Walter el Nagar

Jonathan Gold Quiz: The birds