Downsizing Government

The enthusiasm that greeted the nomination of Sen. Joseph Lieberman as the Demo-cratic vice-presidential candidate was fully shared by Errol Fine.

Fine is the owner of Pat's Restaurant in West Los Angeles, one of the city's premier kosher establishments, which catered a number of parties and receptions honoring the Orthodox nominee.

The smallest party was a family affair of some 40 people at the Biltmore Hotel, featuring honey-glazed salmon and primavera salad with almonds and strawberries.

Another event for 150 people was held at a private home, while the largest order was for 300 guests at the Museum of Tolerance.

Fine, a native of South Africa, took the orders in stride, including delays while the Secret Service cased the delivery vans from stem to stern.

After all, he recalled, during the 1984 Olympic Games, Pat's Restaurant had supplied kosher victuals for 3,000 people when The Jewish Federation threw a community-wide bash feting the Israeli team.

To the disappointment of local synagogues, Lieberman did not stay in Los Angeles over Shabbat. He left immediately at the close of the convention on Thursday to join running mate Al Gore on a steamship for a campaign swing along the Mississippi River.