R.I.P. Michael Chiarello: Food Network Star And Former ‘Top Chef’ Guest Judge Dead At 61 After Allergic Reaction

Michael Chiarello, a critically acclaimed celebrity chef and former Food Network star, has died. He was 61.

Over the past week, the beloved television personality was being treated at the Queen of the Valley Medical Center in Napa, California for a small allergic reaction that led to anaphylactic shock, according to a statement shared by his company, Gruppo Chiarello, with Entertainment Weekly.

“We deeply mourn the loss of our beloved patriarch Michael,” his family told the outlet. “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.”

They 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.”

Born in Red Bluff, California in 1962, Chiarello went on to attend the Culinary Institute of America in New York, before opening his first Napa Valley-based restaurant, Tra Vigne, in 1987. According to his website, he later got into the wine-making business when he created Chiarello Family Vineyards in 1999. The following year, he founded NapaStyle, a “retail line of artisanal foods, kitchen and home.”

The chef’s time on television began in 2001 when he hosted Season by Season on PBS. In the coming years, he starred on Michael Chiarello’s Napa and Michael Chiarello’s Napa: Casual Cooking on PBS, before making his move to Food Network, where he hosted the Emmy Award-winning show Easy Entertaining from 2003 to 2010.

Chiarello came in second place when he competed on Bravo’s Top Chef Masters in 2009 and third place when he was a contestant on The Next Iron Chef in 2011. He later returned to guest judge on shows like Top Chef and Chopped. Others may also recognize him from his frequent guest appearances on The Today Show and The View.

Chiarello later came under fire after two former servers accused him of sexual harassment in 2016, per The New York Post. He denied the claims and settled the lawsuit the following year.

Chiarello is survived by his ex-wife, Eileen Gordon, and his four children, Aidan, Margaux, Felicia and Giana.