Alex Eusebio from 15 in Echo Park to be on Top Chef

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We heard the rumors and now Eater L.A. has it that Alex Eusebio, the young, down-to-earth Dominican chef from 15 in Echo Park is a contestant on Top Chef New York.

There are two other L.A.-area chefs on the show--former Enoteca Drago chef Stefan Richter and Fabio Viviani of Moorpark’s Cafe Firenze--but I’m the most excited about Eusebio, whom I interviewed for a story about 15 back in April. At the time he was 33 and getting ready to marry his long-time sweetheart. He talked a lot about keeping his food accessible and giving back to the neighborhood and he slaved behind the stove six days a week without complaint. I have a hunch that his winning smile, easy manner and dreamy dimples will win over the television audience and I’m willing to predict here and now that he makes it into the top three.

No matter what happens, now I get why 15 put a valet out front not too long ago.

--Jessica Gelt

(An earlier version of this post misspelled Moorpark as Moorepark.)