Massimo Bottura To Guest Star In Season 2 Of Aziz Ansari's "Master Of None"

Following his restaurant's meteoric rise to no. 1 on the prestigious World's 50 Best list this year, charismatic Italian chef Massimo Bottura is getting more time in the spotlight.

The artsy proprietor of Osteria Francescana in Modena — check out Food Republic's 2015 interview with the acclaimed chef — will play a role in the second season of comedian Aziz Ansari's popular Netflix series Master of None.

Earlier this week, Bottura dropped some hints about his involvement with Ansari (as well as a gal who appears to be Italian actress Alessandra Mastronardi) on his Instagram feed:

Crazy reaction of a very nice and supersweet lady after tortellini THIS is HOW Tortellini MAKE YOU FEEL #masterofnone @azizansari #osteriafrancescana

A video posted by Massimo Bottura (@massimobottura) on

And in a recent interview with local Italian publication Gazzetta di Modena, Bottura confirms that Netflix has been in Modena filming new episodes of Ansari's show. According to a rough English translation of the interview, Bottura indicates that he and Ansari became friends while the comedian was visiting the region on vacation, and the chef showed the funnyman around the city. Then Ansari "spontaneously" came back with a film crew in tow.

If our translation is correct, then Bottura sure seems pleased with the attention. Says the chef: "Do you realize? Modena will be seen for two or three episodes around the world! Is not that crazy? Everyone will be talking about us and see a magnificent city. You will see what will happen! And tourism — I think we're already taking off for the first time."

Ansari filmed the show's first season in many reputable New York City restaurants, including Dirty French, Mission Chinese Food and Marlow & Sons, so we won't be surprised if the sophomore season features a visit to Bottura's hugely ballyhooed destination.

Season 2 of Master of None is expected to air in 2017.