NOW that Martha Stew art is safely peeling potatoes behind bars at a women’s correctional facility, a new player is

emerging as the next possible icon of entertaining.

Donatella Arpaia, the fetching partner of davidburke & donatella and Bellini restaurants, could become the “bella donna of domesticity,” once her how-to entertaining book and food products hit the market in the next few months.

The former attorney will be entering the competitive pasta sauce market with a variety of organic red gravies and olive oils that will be available in her eateries and the Spiegel catalog, and on a soon-to-be-activated Web site.

* Esca chef David Pasternack is putting the final touches on his new restaurant, Bistro du Vent (not Rue du Vent, as was reported elsewhere), at 411 W. 42nd St. – around the corner from Esca.

According to general manager Jeremy Noye, the Southern French/Mediterranean eatery should be open in the next two to four weeks.

“We’re definitely having more of a meat and game focus rather than seafood,”he said. “Our rotisserie will have different meats and game birds, such as small baby chickens, and there will also be Dave’s version of steak frites.”