ATX Top Chefs; Alinea Menu Rip-Off; HTX Uchi

AUSTIN — A second Austin restaurant, Beluga Sushi, has a menu that looks awfully similar to those at Grant Achatz's famous Chicago restaurant, Alinea. Meanwhile, two Austin chefs, Paul Qui of Uchiko and Andrew Curren of 24 Diner, are competing on the upcoming Texas-filmed season of Top Chef. Also, the city lost three big restaurants in rapid succession this week: El Arbol, The Belmont, and Hickory Street Bar and Grill.

HOUSTON — Lots of updates this week on Beard award winning Austin chef Tyson Cole's upcoming project, Uchi Houston (coming in January). In the meantime, ten Houston chefs 'fessed up to their favorite guilty pleasures and McDonald's tried to block a local mac and cheese restaurant, Jus' Mac from trademarking their name.

TEXAS-WIDE — Inmate requested final last meals are now a thing of the past in Texas, and the water supply may not be a thing of the future. In happier news, the State Fair of Texas, AKA the World's Fried Food Headquarters, opens next week.