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Celebrity chef Michael Chiarello has died from a severe allergic reaction that led to anaphalytic shock. He was 61.
The acclaimed restaurateur and former Food Network star passed away on Saturday, October 7, at Queen of the Valley Medical Center in Napa, California, where he was being treated.
His death was confirmed in a statement from Chiarello’s family issued by his company Gruppo Chiarello on Sunday, October 8th.
“We deeply mourn the loss of our beloved patriarch Michael,” said the statement, obtained by Entertainment Weekly.
“His culinary brilliance, boundless creativity and unwavering commitment to family were at the core of his being. He brought people together through the joy of shared meals and created lasting memories around the table.”
Chiarello spent his final moments surrounded by his loved ones, the statement continued. “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 to savor the flavors of life.”
Born on January 26, 1962, the Californian graduated from the Culinary Institute of America in New York at the age of 20. In 1985, he was named Chef of the Year by Food & Wine Magazine.
The following year he founded Tra Vigne and served as executive chef/partner at the Napa Valley restaurant until 2000. He then founded ten other restaurants in the region, including the Italian restaurants Bottega and Coqueta.
(Getty)
On television, Chiarello was best known as host of the Food Network’s “Easy Entertaining” with Michael Chiarello, which won two Emmy Awards during its seven-year run.
Over the next 10 years, Chiarello also hosted shows on PBS, Fine Living and The Cooking Channel. Chiarello has appeared as a guest chef on shows such as “The View” and has also been a judge on “Bravo’s Top Chef” and “Top Chef Masters.”
In 2011, he joined celebrity chefs such as Marcus Samuelsson and Anne Burell for the 2011 edition of The Next Iron Chef: Super Chefs.
Over the course of his career, he also authored eight cookbooks and ventured into winemaking, founding Chiarello Family Vineyard in the 1990s.
In 2016, two former Coqueta employees sued Chiarello and his restaurant group for sexual harassment and labor violations. At the time, he vehemently denied the “unfounded claims” and the lawsuit was ultimately settled out of court in 2017.
In 2003, the award-winning chef married Eileen Gordon and they have four children together. He filed for divorce from Gordon in 2019.
His partners at Gruppo Chiarello celebrated the chef’s “passion for food and life” in a statement obtained by Variety.
“As we mourn Michael’s death, we also celebrate his legacy, which continues through his restaurants Bottega, Coqueta and Ottimo,” the statement continued.
“In remembrance, we ask you to join us in celebrating his remarkable journey and the incredible impact he has had on the world of food, wine and family by inviting you to share a meal with your family and friends , to remind us all that bonds formed over food are among life’s most precious treasures.”