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***** If IVERY MOM ??ai| OPIHJOATS ?╟÷Old Atmosphere, New Decor By Madeline O'Talk When you start from scratch, which in this instance happened to be a dilapidated section of the old Charlie Chaplin studio in Hollywood, on a then dreary section of Sunset Boulevard, and create a restaurant that becomes internationally known, you have accomplished something worth applause. And that is just what Michel Cartier did with his "Cafe de Paris" on which he has just completed major additions and improvements commensurate with the increased volume of his business and the upgrading of the neighborhood. Cartier began the metamorphosis by retaining Clif and Lou Sawyer, 3935 Vineland, N. Hollywood, Calif, to develop the new decor without upsetting the valuable old atmosphere that has helped to make the establishment a "must" for thousands of repeat guests and for casual visitors to Los Angeles. When the designer-contractors took over, they ran into innumerable snags created by the building and safety department, inspectors of which insisted that the old building was not up to present codes. This called for much more remodeling than contemplated. About this time Clif Sawyer had to step out of the job because of a serious illness that landed him in the Veterans Hospital in San Fernando. Plucky Lou, a diminutive Basque lady, proceeded with the job personally while studying for and actually obtaining her license as a duly qualified building contractor, one of three women so designated by the California Board of Contractors. Trivial construction problems became serious ones and substantial brick and large expanses of glass took the place of the old redwood siding. The interior walls were paneled in walnut with inset medallions of red-embossed paper trimmed with an antique verdigris. In one corner a waterfall coming from a Pyrenees background tumbles into a tank filled with live trout which guests can net and have broiled to order. Spindles divide the main dining room and the cocktail lounge. The latter is embellished with a colorful mural depicting French Tahiti this partly to complement a large Tahitian club which has made the restaurant a din ner-meeting place every Monday night. In addition to the main dining room, in which capacity was increased from 100 to 150, a banquet room seating 100 was created on the second floor. A new porte-cochere was added to the entrance drive and a Parisian "kiosque" with its theater show posters was placed as a directional sign. The accompanying illustrations of the before and after conditions best illustrate the changes by Lou and her limited crew. None of these things would have been possible but for the skill and effort of Monsieur Cartier himself. Born in Montauban in Southwest France, noted for its Epicurean tastes, he entered a culinary school at 12, and then moved on to an apprenticeship in a famous restaurant in Brive. His next move was to Paris, where he worked at Fouquet's, Palliard's, Cafe de la Paix, and others. Leaving Paris occasionally, he worked in Marseilles, Nice, Lourde's and at Constantine in North Africa. This constant change follows policy in France, where the young chef is expected to learn the types of service, the specialty dishes, and to get a knowledge of the conventional and exotic. In 1937, following a stint in the French Navy, he came to the United States and was immediately employed in the Chambord Restaurant of New York. Then he became executive chef at the Lafayette Hotel in Boston; the Pierre Restaurant in Washington, D.C; and the Bon-Air Club in Chicago. While there, he decided to move to Los Angeles and within a few days he landed at Chasers, then Ciro's, and Romanoff's. With the money he had saved, he took over the 7038 Sunset location and with his wife did most of the decorating and furnishing. Many couples would have thrown up From left Lou Sawyer, Mr. and Mrs. Michele Cartier. f Parisian kiosque acts as directional sign to the new-old Cafe de Paris, owned by Michel Cartier, at 7038 W. Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles. Major updating of the establishment, which retains old atmosphere sought by thousands of repeat guests, recently has been accomplished by Clif and Lou Sawyer. The Cafe de Paris, featuring French cuisine (Car- tier was born in Montauban) serves wine from both California and France. '^ M W^itlllil