Michael Chiarello, a well-known chef who appeared on “Easy Entertaining with Michael Chiarello” and “Top Chef,” has passed away. He was 61.
The restaurateur passed away on Saturday in Napa, according to a statement from Chiarello’s company Gruppo Chiarello, which was emailed to CNN. According to the company’s statement, he was receiving treatment for an acute allergic response that caused anaphylactic shock.
“We mourn the passing of our beloved patriarch Michael with great sorrow. At the very center of his being were his prodigious culinary skills, limitless imagination, and unshakable devotion to his family. He fostered enduring memories at the table by bringing people together through the joy of shared meals, according to a statement from the Chiarello family.
“As we navigate this profound loss, we hold dear the moments we treasured with him, both in his kitchens and in our hearts,” the statement concluded. The love he put into every dish and the zeal he inspired in us all to relish life’s delicacies will long be a part of his legacy.
The chef is well-known for his ten seasons as host of the Food Network program bearing his name, “Easy Entertaining with Michael Chiarello,” which began in 2003. Between 2003 and 2006, the series received three Emmy awards. (Warner Bros. Discovery includes CNN and Food Network.)
In addition to “Top Chef,” “Top Chef Masters,” “The Next Iron Chef,” “Iron Chef America,” and “Supermarket Superstar,” which debuted in 2013, Chiarello appeared on a variety of other cooking programs.
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Additionally, he has made appearances as a guest chef on “The View,” “Regis & Kathy,” “The Today Show,” and “CBS Early Show.”
The California native earned a degree from the CIA in Hyde Park, New York, in 1982, and in 1985, Food & Wine Magazine awarded him Chef of the Year. In 1995, Chiarello’s alma mater also honored him Chef of the Year.
In 1986, he founded his first restaurant, Tra Vigne, in the Napa Valley. Since then, he has developed and opened more than 10 restaurants in Northern California, including the well-known Bottega and Coqueta.
Since 1995, Chiarello has written more than eight cookbooks. In the late 1990s, he also founded the Chiarello Family Vineyards.
