Washington

• Custody settlement. Following their recent business divorce, Yannick Cam is keeping El Catalan while former partner Savino Recine retains custody of Provence, where he installed Rene Kerdranvat (Nikolai's Roof in Atlanta) as executive chef. Not that Cam has given up on southern France: he plans to open a Provençal restaurant in the back of El Catalan, which will continue to offer Spanish food.

• The Daily Grill is plan-ning two locations: the first where Riviera used to be, in The Georgetown Inn, and the second in Tysons Galleria. At the same time, The Grill, the California-based operation's more upscale concept, is planned for 10th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue.

• Manual Iguina (Provence, Coco Loco) is general manager of the new 11th Hour restaurant and dance club on 14th Street near P Street. Owners Howie Kitrosser and Massoud A have decreed that a live DJ play Latin on Thursdays, swing on Wednes-days, and international on the weekends. Also in the neighborhood are Diversité and Metro Grille, the newest dining-and-dancing meccas for the daringly chic.

• And speaking of nightclubs, Asylum Company principals Steven Swetlow, Peter Bianchini, Suzanne Smith, and Farid Zahiri are opening MCCXXIII (1223) at Connecticut and M Street, NW. The 9,800-square-foot space has two levels of dining along with a private club, all aimed at attracting the over-35 crowd once drawn by The River Club.

• In Laurel, Larry Hillman has opened the Tex-Mex-style Laredo's Grill where Chi Chi's used to be on Route 1. The 600-seat restaurant includes outdoor seating for 200. Longtime Hillman employee Freddie Mallory (Montgomery's Grill, J. Paul's) is behind the stoves.

• White House Connection's John Richardson has reopened Samba Café in Bethesda as South Beach Café, serving Floribbean cuisine.

• Nezih Pistar (Mendocino Grill, Restaurant Nora) is now general manager of Levante in Bethesda. The eastern Mediterranean restaurant is planning to open a second location at Dupont Circle this fall.

• Café Olé has arrived in Tenleytown, offering light and healthy Mediterranean fare. Husband-and-wife team Ziad Maalouf (The Carlton Hotel) and Jane Gray joined with fellow married couple Saffron Emerson and Jacques Van Staden, most recently executive sous-chef of Lespinasse, to form the ownership group Restaurant Concepts.

• Jessie Yan of Spices in Cleveland Park and Oodles of Noodles has taken over Wrap 'n Roll on Connecticut Avenue with plans to open an upscale Asian restaurant. Yan also has possession of the former Boston Market in Tysons Corner.

• The upper Georgetown site of La Niçoise and Acajulta has been purchased by Steve Kong (King Kong), who plans to open an Asian restaurant.

• Steve Troese and Chris Niosi will open an Italian deli and market in the former Market Day at Dupont Circle. Via Reggio will offer pastas, breads, olives, and prepared sauces.

• Fabrizio and Ingrid Aielli have found a new home for Goldoni Ristorante. After three years in the West End, the fine-dining room will relocate to the Marrocco's site.

• Share Our Strength, the anti-hunger organization, raised $4.9 million in its 11th annual Taste of the Nation fund-raising drive.