Indie Chefs Week in Austin; Takashi's Final Omakase Menus

AUSTIN— The first 2015 installment of the recurring Indie Chefs Week will take place in Austin from January 6 to 10 next year, and founder/chef Ned Elliott (of Foreign & Domestic) has revealed the preliminary line-up. Richie Nakano (SF's Hapa Ramen), Johanna Ware (Portland's Smallwares), Scott Vivian (Toronto's Beast), and Aaron Hoskins (Richmond's the Rogue Gentlemen) are among the 30 chefs that will collaborate over the course of several multi-course meals. Elliott promises the second half of the line-up is still forthcoming, but tickets to the dinners are already available; more information here. [EaterWire]

CHICAGO— Last month, Chicago chef Takashi Yagihashi announced he would close his one-Michelin-starred restaurant Takashi by the end of the year. Now, Eater Chicago reports Yagihashi has revealed the special "Imperial 7" omakase menu that will close out the restaurant's run. The restaurant's final service will be New Year's Eve. [ECHI]

NEW ORLEANS— Dinner Lab, the New Orleans-based "underground" supper club, is seeking $2 million from its members to help grow its burgeoning catering business. Eater NOLA reports Dinner Lab's "accredited" members are being invited to invest a minimum $10,000 to help fund "technology upgrades and hiring staff." [ENOLA]