Michael Chiarello, the American chef and TV host known for his Italian-influenced California cuisine, has died .
The popular TV chef, who was a regular on shows such as the Today Show and The View, was 61 years old at his time of death.
Who was Michael Chiarello?
Michael Chiarello was an American celebrity chef who was known for Italian-influenced California cuisine.
He hosted the cooking show Easy Entertaining with Michael Chiarello on Food Network and NapaStyle on Fine Living Network.
Chiarello owned a winery called Chiarello Family Vineyards, located in Yountville, CA. He was the owner of a tapas restaurant named Coqueta and an Italian restaurant named Bottega and has locations in Napa Valley, California and San Francisco, California.
Chiarello also owned NapaStyle in Yountville, CA, which sold a selection of exclusive drinkware, serverware, and designer tabletop pieces but closed on January 4, 2016.
He was a competitor on the fourth season of The Next Iron Chef. In the spring of 2013, Chiarello opened a tapas restaurant named Coqueta on San Francisco’s waterfront.
In March 2016, two former employees of Coqueta filed lawsuits alleging sexual harassment and labor law violations against Michael Chiarello and his restaurant group Gruppo Chiarello; the sexual harassment lawsuit was settled in 2017.
Early life and career
Born to an Italian-American family, Michael Chiarello became prominent at a young age.
After graduating from the Culinary Institute of America in 1982, he studied hospitality management at Florida International University, receiving his bachelor’s degree in 1984.
The next year, he opened The Grand Bay Hotel in Coconut Grove, Florida, and Toby’s Bar and Grill. He was honored as 1985’s Chef of the Year by Food & Wine Magazine.
Later in the 1980s, Chiarello moved back to his home state of California, making his home in the Napa Valley.
One of his first endeavors was to be a chef at The Heritage Restaurant in Turlock, which failed and went bankrupt.
He opened the Tra Vigne restaurant, creating a menu influenced by the cuisine of his family’s native Calabria and rife with local seasonal ingredients.
He has since served as executive chef in numerous American restaurants including Caffe Museo in San Francisco, Ajax Tavern and Bump’s in Aspen, Colorado, and Bisect in Scottsdale, Arizona.
Media career
His first cooking show, Season by Season, debuted on PBS in 2001. He hosted two more series for PBS, Michael Chiarello’s Napa and Michael Chiarello’s Napa:
Casual Cooking, over the next two years before moving to the Food Network to host Easy Entertaining in 2003.
In 2004, his show NapaStyle premiered on the Food Network’s sister network Fine Living Network.
In 2009, Chiarello was a contestant on Top Chef Masters, winning his preliminary round and advancing to the championship round, placing second to winner Rick Bayless.
Reruns of Easy Entertaining now appear on Food Network’s sister network Cooking Channel.
In 2011, Chiarello appeared in the Visit California promotional film aimed at boosting tourism from the UK.
Personal life
In 2003, Michael Chiarello married Eileen Marie Gordon, with whom he had one son, Aidan, born in 2005.
He had three daughters, Margaux, Felicia, and Giana, from his previous marriage. In 2019, Chiarello filed for divorce from Gordon.
Michael Chiarello Death Cause
Michael Chiarello died at the age of 61 on October 6, 2023, after being hospitalized for an allergic reaction that led to anaphylaxis.
“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. He brought people together through the joy of shared meals, fostering lasting memories around the table,” the Chiarello family shared in a statement.
The statement continued, “As we navigate this profound loss, we hold dear the moments we cherished with him, both in his kitchens and in our hearts. 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.”
Michael Chiarello net worth
Michael Chiarello reportedly died a millionaire. He accumulated an impressive fortune over the years. Before he died, he had an estimated net worth of $3.5 million.
He accrued his money from his work as a chef and a Television personality. He was also an entrepreneur who founded his company, Gruppo Chiarello.
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