
DATE: Thursday, May 15, 1997                TAG: 9705130173

SECTION: NORFOLK COMPASS         PAGE: 02   EDITION: FINAL 

TYPE: ON THE TOWN 

SOURCE: Sam Martinette 

                                            LENGTH:   84 lines

ELLIOTT'S ADDING EXOTIC SUPPER CLUB

Elliot's goes exotic a week from Saturday with the grand opening of Cafe Kasbah, featuring the Latin rhythms of Ernesto Laboy and his Mambo Jazz Band.

Between 9 and 10 p.m., the staff will begin converting the dining room of the landmark Ghent restaurant, section by section, into a supper club, complete with an area for dancing.

It's the brainchild of General Manager Omar Boukhriss, a native of Morocco who traveled widely in Europe and worked in the Metropolitan Washington area before joining Elliot's six years ago. The cafe will initially operate only on Saturday evenings from 10 p.m. to 1:30 a.m.

``In Morocco, the original Kasbah in Marakesh was where people went for action,'' Boukhriss said. ``There were nightclubs, and supper clubs with women dancing. Now it is more of a marketplace."

On Saturday, May 24th, Boukhriss and manager Wendy Nuzzo plan to wake up the quiet Ghent restaurant district. ``We're trying to create some high-energy entertainment,'' Nuzzo explained. ``It's dead at night in Ghent after 9:30 or so, and we have people asking all the time where they can go dancing. We send them to the Beach. Now they can come here and dance.

``Our dream is to fill the place,'' she added. ``We can accommodate about 120 people, and we can see the whole place filled up like a night club.''

Boukhriss agreed. ``I lived in D.C. for years, and up there you can find anything you want to do, anytime, any day of the week. We are going to make our whole dining room upscale after 10 o'clock. We will take some tables out and change the atmosphere, with candlelight, linens, even the staff uniforms will change.''

There will be no cover charge, but in keeping with the supper club tradition, a $7-per-person minimum will be charged, Boukhriss said, to help defray the costs of the band. Food specials will emphasize the theme of the evening, matching the music, which will change from week to week, according to Nuzzo and Boukhriss. The regular menu will be served from 10 to midnight, and lighter fare offered until 1:30 a.m.

``The special that first night will be Latin-oriented, and if we book a Middle Eastern band we will coordinate a food special with that music,'' Boukhriss said. There will be a cigar bar and special drink prices every Saturday night, as well.

``We're looking at attracting a cross-section of people of all ages,'' Nuzzo added. ``It won't be a rock 'n' roll club, but it won't be the country club or yacht club either.''

As for the opening night act, I've seen Ernesto Laboy play, and, if you like Latin music, you're in for a treat. I'm told Laboy and his band will open for the legendary Tito Puente and his orchestra at Harborfest this summer. I saw Puente play in New Orleans some years back, during the Jazz Festival, and can tell you the master hasn't lost his spark. Laboy carries the torch locally, and his music ranges from high energy to sultry during live performances.

Also coming up at Elliot's is the 2nd annual ``Anything But Chardonnay'' wine tasting and kitchen party, set for Tuesday from 7 to 9 p.m. Tickets for the event are $20 in advance and $25 at the door. Last year's wine party was a sellout.

Wines from France, Italy, Argentina, Australia, Oregon and California will be featured, along with plenty of hors d'oeuvres. Sophie Sellers will play some lively Dixieland banjo, Nuzzo said, but the emphasis will be on wine tasting and comparisons.

``Last year we had about 100 people attend, and a lot of those people really had an interest in wine,'' she said. There will be experts on hand to answer questions and guide the tasting comparisons.

As for the display kitchen, it has been the scene for everything from sit-down dinners to cocktail parties.

``We transform the kitchen, put down a rug, and create a home-like atmosphere. Last year we had people from 75 years old to college girls,'' she said. ``There was even a personal ad that appeared later, `Saw you at the Elliot's wine-tasting party . . . ' It was funny.'' ILLUSTRATION: Photo by SAM MARTINETTE

Managers Omar Boukhriss and Wendy Nuzzo plan to open Cafe Kasbah,

complete with an area for dancing.

Graphic

AT A GLANCE

What: Cafe Kasbah at Elliot's: supper club atmosphere, dancing,

live music.

Where: 1421 Colley Ave., 625-0259.

When: 10 p.m. to 1:30 a.m., Saturday evenings, starting May 24.

Cost: $7 minimum per-person, no cover.