Emmy Award-winning chef Michael Chiarello, renowned for his Californian eateries with an Italian flair and appearances on Bravo’s “Top Chef” and “Top Chef Masters,” has passed away at 61.
On October 6, Chiarello succumbed to an anaphylactic shock resulting from an allergic reaction at the Queen of the Valley Medical Center in Napa, where he had been under care for a week. The exact cause of his allergic reaction has not been disclosed.
His restaurant collective, Gruppo Chiarello, expressed their profound sorrow, highlighting his culinary genius, innovation, and dedication to family. Chiarello, an alumnus of the Culinary Institute of America in New York, started his culinary journey with his first restaurant, Toby’s in Miami, at the age of 22. His culinary footprint expanded across Napa Valley and San Francisco with establishments like Tra Vigne Restaurant, Coqueta, Ottimo, and Bottega. Additionally, he was the proprietor of the Chiarello Family Vineyards in Yountville, California.
His restaurant Bottega earned accolades like Best Newcomer by Zagat in 2008 and was listed among America’s best new restaurants by Forbes and Esquire. It offered signature dishes such as Lasagnetta di Zucchine, Pesce alla Milanese, and Pollo alla Diavola. Ottimo was known for its paninis and group servings like the tomato-braised roasted whole chicken.
In 1985, Food & Wine Magazine honored Chiarello with the Chef of the Year title, followed by the Culinary Institute of America’s Chef of the Year Award in 1995. His television appearances included Food Network’s “Next Iron Chef,” “Supermarket Superstar” on Lifetime, and as a judge on “Chopped.” Esquire magazine crowned him Chef of the Year in 2013.
However, in 2016, Chiarello faced allegations of sexual harassment from two former employees at Coqueta, which were settled in 2017.
His literary contributions to the culinary world include books such as “LiveFire Cookbook,” “The Tra Vigne Cookbook,” ”Michael Chiarello’s Bottega,” “Michael Chiarello’s Casual Cooking,” “Napa Stories,” and “Flavored Vinegars.”
Michael leaves behind his wife, Eileen, and their four children. Gruppo Chiarello encourages everyone to honor his memory by sharing a meal with loved ones, emphasizing the significance of connections made over food.
