Cooks adjust for trans fat ban in new year: ; Md. restaurants say switch will add expense to monthly supplies

WASHINGTON - Starting New Year's Day, the toast at Tastee Dinerin Bethesda, Md., will be buttered with something unusual: butter.

With the first phase of Montgomery County's restaurant ban ontrans fat going into effect Tuesday, the diner's Bethesda and SilverSpring branches will switch from the margarine that has been thenorm for more than 35 years to genuine butter, owner Gene Wilkessaid.

"It'll cost more, about 5 cents per breakfast," Wilkes said ofhis return to a real dairy spread, which is about twice as expensiveas his margarine. "We're talking about a lot of toast here."

Wilkes estimated the switch to a trans-fat-free menu will add$1,500 a month to his …