Celebrity chef Michael Chiarello has died at the age of 61. He is known for opening restaurants in San Francisco and Napa Valley, including Coqueta and Ottimo.
Courtesy of Yelp user Lily K.
Bay Area celebrity chef Michael Chiarello died Friday evening at age 61, the San Francisco Chronicle reported.
Chiarello was known for opening various restaurants around Napa Valley and San Francisco, including Coqueta, Ottimo and Bottega. He also hosted the show “Easy Entertaining” on the Food Network and owned Chiarello Family Vineyards in Yountville.
Chiarello died at Queen of the Valley Medical Center in Napa as a result of an allergic reaction that led to anaphylactic shock, Business Wire reported. He had been treated in hospital for his allergic reaction last week.
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“As we process this difficult loss, we treasure the moments we enjoyed with him in his kitchen and in our hearts. “His legacy will live on forever in the love he put into every dish and the passion he instilled in all of us for savoring the flavors of life,” Chiarello’s family said in a statement, according to Business Wire .
Chiarello was famous for its Italian-inspired California cuisine. In 1987 he opened his first restaurant, Tra Vigne, in Napa Valley.
In 2016, Chiarello was accused of sexual harassment by two of Coqueta’s former employees. The lawsuits filed by the former employees were settled the following year.
Chiarello’s restaurant group Gruppo Chiarello operates four restaurants: Bottega, Ottimo and Coqueta in Yountville, as well as a second location in Coqueta on the Embarcadero in San Francisco.