EaterWire: Maldonado IN at Aziza, Incanto's New Dinner Series, Top Chef Masters Ramps Up

THE RICHMOND—Rising Star Chef Louis Maldonado, last seen at the shuttered Cafe Majestic, is now aboard Mourad Lahlou's estimable ship at Aziza, according to tomorrow's Scoop. Maldonado will be the chef de cuisine and hopes to start adding menu items in September. [Scoop]

NOE VALLEY—Some DealFeed action: starting Sunday, Incanto will begin a 14-week-long dinner series called cucina povera. The $30 three-course menu will be offered on Sundays and Mondays until fall, highlighting a different Italian region each week. Menu and more details are online. [EaterWire]

TOP CHEF MASTERS—The Bravo buzz machine is officially underway for Top Chef Masters. The Feedbag has a Q&A with judge Jay Rayner, and earlier today, the four contestants on the first episode—Michael Schlow, Texas Tim Love, Christopher Lee, and our very own Hubert Keller—held a conference call. According to our NYC counterparts, the highlight was when they joked that Tom Colicchio should have been forced to compete. Chefs can be so funny. [TFB/ENY]

[Photo: Aziza]