Celebrity chef Michael Chiarello passes away due to acute allergic reaction
MANILA, Philippines — Celebrity chef Michael Chiarello, who hosted cooking shows on Food Network affiliates and appeared on several reality cooking competition shows, has passed away at the age of 61.
Chiarello's restaurant company Gruppo Chiarello said in a statement that the chef died last October 7 during treatment for an acute allergic reaction which resulted in anaphylactic shock.
"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," Chiarello's family said in a separate statement. "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."
The chef hosted the Food Network's three-time Emmy winning show "Easy Entertaining with Michael Chiarello" for 10 seasons since 2003 and appeared on competition shows like "Top Chef" and "The Next Iron Chef."
Chiarello graduated from New York's Culinary Institute of America in 1982 which later recognized him as Chef of the Year over a decade later.
He opened more than 10 restaurants in his native California including Bottega, Ottimo, Coqueta, and his very first one Tra Vigne, on top of authoring eight cookbooks since 1985.
Chiarello is survived through his son Aidan from his ex-wife Eileen Gordon and three daughters Margaux, Felicia, and Giana from a previous marriage.
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