Los Angeles

• Out of the frying pan, into her own restaurant. Josie LeBalch (The Beach House, Saddle Peak Lodge, Remi) has acquired her own culinary home at last, taking the former 2424 Pico space in Santa Monica and rechristening it Josie; the eatery is scheduled to open in June. Her husband Frank Delzio (JiRaffe), will run the front of the house; David Fouts (ex-Lumpy Gravy) is at her right hand; and the pastry chef is Jonna Jensen (Saddle Peak Lodge).

• Reata, named after the ranch in Giant, brings Texas cowboy cuisine with an upscale twist to Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills after two previous round-ups in Alpine and Fort Worth, Texas. Chef/co-owner Grady Spears serves up Hereford beef from the CF Ranch, one of the largest in the world.

• Andre Guerrero (ex-Duet, Alice's) returns to L.A. from his native Philippines to open Linq in West Hollywood. Unique fusion dishes include a purple yam flan with banana-jackfruit spring roll and coconut-tapioca sauce.

• After two years, Alain Giraud has left Lavande at Loews Santa Monica Beach Hotel to open his own restaurant.

• Chef/co-owner Michael Shafer of Depot in Torrance has bought out partners Michael Franks and Robert Bell (Melange Group).

• Meanwhile, the Melange Group has opened Mackey's American Grill in Palos Verdes Estates under chef/general manager PeterCarpenter (ex-Misto, Chez Melange). In Redondo Beach, Melange has opened the 60-seat Pizzeria Gusto, a bustling trattoria serving wood-fired California cuisine under chef/general manager BillDertouzos (ex-Hotel Nikko Beverly Hills).

• Millennium & Copthorne Hotels has purchased the landmark Biltmore Hotel downtown, where executive chef Roger Pigozzi remains at the reborn Bernard's.

• Zov's Bistro in Tustin, an Orange County favorite since 1987, has taken over adjacent retail space to add 250 banquet seats, an expanded kitchen, and a garden atrium.

• The original La Serenata de Garibaldi in East Los Angeles has reopened with more seating after a two-year rehab.

• After a six-year dispute over noise, Twin Palms in Newport Beach has closed. The landlord, Irvine Co., bought out the lease. The neighboring Four Seasons Hotel will take over and reconfigure the restaurant as expanded banquet space. The Twin Palms in Pasadena and Santa Clarita remain.

• Steve and Anita Carter have purchased The Bun Boy restaurant in Baker, California, the first time ownership has changed hands since the "Gateway to Death Valley" (as Baker is known) landmark opened in 1926. The home-style burgers, breakfasts, and fresh strawberry milkshakes remain, along with the 134-foot "World's Tallest Thermometer.".