John Mauceri

* The conductor leads his 200th concert with the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra on Saturday.

Work and Play: My favorite weekend is when I’m conducting with the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra. It’s absolutely my favorite thing--what I would do every weekend if I could. The Bowl is one of the great places and things that the city gives to its people. New York or Chicago has nothing like it. For me, it’s kind of a sacred place. A thousand years from now when people talk about L.A., the Hollywood Bowl will be one of the architectural aspects.

Cut Him Off in the Pass: The secret place I go near the Bowl is the California Canteen, in the Cahuenga Pass, one of those little-known hideaway restaurants that has unique Mediterranean cuisine. It’s on a very high level, and very fresh, but unlike any restaurant I know in the world. Yannick Laborde, the proprietor, has created a menu that covers most of Mediterranean, so there’s a combination of things, and he’ll stay open late after a concert.

Beach Trip: My other favorite weekend eating place would be James’ Beach in Malibu, because James Evans is one of the most hospitable restaurateurs. He makes everyone feel like it is their restaurant. And because it’s not in central L.A., you sort of feel like you’re on vacation when you go there.

Breakfast of Champions: I like to have breakfast at Du-Par’s in Studio City because it’s the place that Franz Waxman, the famous film composer, used to go and compose. He scored “Sunset Boulevard” and other films while at Du-Par’s. And it’s hardly changed since then.

Fore!: One of the things my wife, Betty, has suggested is that I learn to play golf. I do enjoy the public courses here. People are so friendly and there’s every level of playing going on, like at Roosevelt in Griffith Park and Whitsett in Studio City. There’s no pressure and you can get put together with people you don’t know. That’s gotten my mind off just doing concerts.