Michael Chiarello, the American chef and host known for his Italian-influenced California cuisine, has died at the age of 61.
Chiarello died Friday evening, surrounded by family and friends, at Queen of the Valley Hospital in Napa, California.
His restaurant group Gruppo Chiarello said the chef had been hospitalized last week after an acute allergic reaction that led to anaphylactic shock.
Born in 1962, the passionate chef followed his childhood dream of becoming a world-class chef and hosted a variety of television shows for a decade.
He was named Chef of the Year by Food & Wine magazine in 1985, and later received the CIA Chef of the Year Award in 1995. He was also recognized by the James Beard Foundation and was the author of many cookbooks.
Celebrity chef Michael Chiarello has died at the age of 61 after suffering a severe allergic reaction
The Italian-American chef and TV host appeared on a number of TV shows and opened several restaurants
He appeared on networks such as PBS, Food Network, Fine Living and the Cooking Channel throughout his career
Chiarello came from an Italian-American family and came to the central California community of Turlock.
He left his sunny hometown for Hyde Park, New York, to study at the Culinary Institute of America.
After graduating in 1982, Chiarello attended Florida International University’s School of Hospitality and Tourism Management, receiving a bachelor’s degree two years later.
Then he began his professional career by opening his first restaurant, Toby’s, in Miami.
Chiarello found instant fame and moved home to open Tra Vigne restaurant in Napa Valley, where he served as Executive Chef and partner for the restaurant—and seven others.
As his influence grew further, Chiarello hosted shows on PBS, the Food Network, Fine Living and the Cooking Channel for a decade, also appearing as a guest chef on the Today show and The View.
He served as a judge on Bravo’s Top Chef and Top Chef Masters, and, in 2011, competed on the fourth season of Food Network’s Next Iron Chef.
He will be best remembered for his show Easy Entertaining With Michael Chiarello, which aired for ten seasons on the Food Network and earned him a Daytime Emmy in 2005 for Outstanding Service Host.
Chiarello found instant fame when he opened his first restaurant, Toby’s, after graduating from college.
He hosted a variety of television shows for a decade, including the Emmy-winning series Easy Entertaining With Michael Chiarello
He was the author of several cookbooks and was named Chef of the Year by Food & Wine magazine in 1985, as well as Chef of the Year by the CIA in 1995.
Chiarello faced allegations of workplace misconduct for the rest of his life and settled out of court with two former employees
Towards the end of his life, Chiarello became embroiled in legal trouble, including accusations of sexual harassment and wage theft by two former employees in 2016.
After the allegations, Chiarello continued his public appearances and caused a public outcry when he was invited to be part of the South Beach Food and Wine Festival in 2018.
The chef then worked at his own restaurants, Bottega and Coqueta, and mostly retreated from the limelight.
“Chef Michael Chiarello’s passion for food and life will forever be etched in our kitchens and hearts,” his Gruppo Chiarello partners said in a statement.
The group oversees its restaurants Bottega, Coqueta – with two locations in San Francisco and Napa Valley – and Ottimo.
‘In commemoration, we ask you to join us in celebrating his extraordinary journey and the tremendous impact he had on the worlds of food, wine and family by inviting you to share a meal with your family and friends to remind us of everyone that the connections created during a meal are among the most precious treasures of life”, the statement says.
Chiarello’s family released their own statement expressing their deep sense of grief.
“His culinary brilliance, boundless creativity and unwavering devotion to family were at the core of his being.
It brought people together through the joy of shared meals, fostering lasting memories around the table. As we navigate this profound loss, we hold dear the moments we loved with him, both in his kitchens and in our hearts.
“His legacy will live on forever in the love he poured into every dish and the passion he instilled in all of us to enjoy the flavors of life.”
In lieu of flowers, the family has requested donations to Meals on Wheels.
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