Michael Chiarello, celebrity chef and former Food Network star, died at the age of 61 over the weekend.
Chiarello died at the queen of the Valley Medical Center in Napa, California where he had been treated over the past week for an acute allergic reaction. This later lead to an anaphylactic shock. His company, Gruppo Chiarello, announced in a statement to the public.
“We deeply mourn the loss of our beloved patriarch Michael. His culinary brilliance, boundless creativity, and unwavering commitment to family were at the core of his being,” Chiarello’s family — who were by his side at the time of his death — said in a statement. “He 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 cherished with him, both in his kitchens and in our hearts,” the family added. “His legacy will forever live on in the love he poured into every dish and the passion he instilled in all of us to savor life’s flavors.”
Chiarello’s funeral arrangements will be private, and in lieu of flowers, his family is asking donations instead be made to Meals on Wheels.
The chef was born in Red Bluff, California back in 1962 where he would go on to open his first restaurant in 1987.
A number of places the star opened included Bottega and Ottimo, both located in Napa Valley, and Coqueta, a Spanish establishment with locations in Napa Valley and at San Francisco’s Pier 5.
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Chiarello also got into the winemaking business in 1999, according to his website, creating Chiarello Family Vineyards. He then established NapaStyle, a retail line of artisanal foods, kitchenware, and home products, a year later.
The famed chef also hosted shows on PBS, Food Network, Fine Living and Cooking Channel throughout the years, and appeared as a guest chef on the likes of the Today show and The View, per his website. In 2013, he was awarded Chef of The Year by Esquire.
Chiarello’s life had a fair share of controversy. Back in 2016, star was accused of sexual harassment by two former Coqueta employees in 2016.
The chef denied the claims against him per KTVU, and the lawsuits filed by the former workers were settled the following year.
