Celebrity chef and Food Network icon Michael Chiarello died Friday after suffering an allergic response that led to anaphylactic shock, in keeping with his restaurant group. He was 61.
“We deeply mourn the lack of our beloved patriarch Michael,” Chiarello’s family said in a press release obtained by The Wrap. “His culinary brilliance, boundless creativity, and unwavering commitment to family were on the core of his being. He brought people together through the enjoyment of shared meals, fostering lasting memories across the table.”
The Post reached out to Chiarello’s reps for comment.
Born on Jan. 26, 1962, Chiarello hosted shows on PBS and the Food Network, in addition to appeared on “Top Chef,” “Top Chef Masters” and “The Next Iron Chef.”
He earned a Daytime Emmy in 2005 for Outstanding Service Show Host for Food Network’s “Easy Entertaining with Michael Chiarello.”
He died surrounded by family and friends on the Queen of the Valley Medical Center in Napa, California.
The Gruppo Chiarello restaurant group issued a press release remembering the California native’s “passion for food.”
“Chef Michael Chiarello’s passion for food and life will endlessly be etched in our kitchens and our hearts,” read the statement. “While we mourn Michael’s passing, we also have a good time his legacy that continues along with his restaurants, Bottega, Coqueta (San Francisco and Napa Valley), and Ottimo.”
Known for Italian-influenced California cuisine, Chiarello was honored as 1985’s Chef of the 12 months by Food & Wine Magazine.
He opened his first restaurant, Tra Vigne, within the Napa Valley in 1987.
He hosted “Season by Season” on PBS and “NapaStyle” on the Fantastic Living Network.
He placed second on the primary season of “Top Chef Masters” in 2009 and third on the “super chefs” edition of “The Next Iron Chef” in 2011.
He was a guest judge on “Top Chef” in 2009 and on “Chopped” in 2016.
He wrote several cookbooks, including “Bottega: Daring Italian Flavors from the Heart of California’s Wine Country,” “At Home with Michael Chiarello: Easy Entertaining,” and “Michael Chiarello’s Casual Cooking.”
In 2016, Chiarello was accused of sexual harassment by two former servers.
They alleged Chiarello once compared martinis to breasts and told managers to rent only those they found sexually attractive.
On the time, a Chiarello rep called the allegations unfounded and said the chef would vigorously defend himself.
Chiarello settled the lawsuit out of court in 2017.
Several fans of his took to X (formerly Twitter) to precise their dismay on the chef’s unexpected passing.
“A really sad day for me personally and the culinary world,” posted celebrity chef Robert Irvine. “My thoughts and Prayers exit to family and teammates… RIP my Dear friend you shall be sorely missed.”
“Very sad to listen to one in every of my favorite chefs, Michael Chiarello has died,” tweeted a second user. “He had a severe allergic response last week. Allergic reactions aren’t benign.”
“Michael Chiarello passed away. God that sucks,” mourned a 3rd person. “He was one in every of the primary chefs I looked as much as after I first began cooking 20 years ago. Gave the impression of such a cool guy. Awful stuff.”
Chiarello is survived by his ex-wife, Eileen Gordon, who married Chiarello in 2003 before he filed for divorce in 2019, and his 4 children, Aidan, Margaux, Felicia and Giana.