Michael Chiarello

Michael Chiarello
Chiarello in 2015
Born(1962-01-26)January 26, 1962
Red Bluff, California, U.S.
DiedOctober 6, 2023(2023-10-06) (aged 61)
Napa, California, U.S.
EducationFlorida International University,
Culinary Institute of America
Spouse(s)Ines Bartel (divorced),
Eileen Marie Gordon (m. 2003–2019; separated)
Children4
Culinary career
Cooking styleCalifornian, Italian
Previous restaurant(s)
    • Coqueta, San Francisco, California (2013–?)
    • Coqueta, Yountville, California
    • Bottega Restaurant, Yountville, California (2008–20??)
    • Ottimo
    • Tra Vigne, St. Helena, California (1987–2001)
Television show(s)
Award(s) won
  • Daytime Emmy Award (2003)
Websitehttp://michaelchiarello.com/

Michael Dominic Chiarello (January 26, 1962 – October 6, 2023)[1] was an American celebrity chef, restauranteur, and businessperson, who was known for Italian-influenced California cuisine. He hosted the cooking TV shows Easy Entertaining with Michael Chiarello on Food Network, and NapaStyle on Fine Living Network. 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.[2] He was a competitor on the fourth season of The Next Iron Chef.

Early life and career

Michael Dominic Chiarello was born on January 26, 1962, in Red Bluff, California, to an Italian-American family.[1] He began cooking with his family at a young age.[1]

After graduating in 1982 from the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, New York,[3] he studied hospitality management at Florida International University, and received his bachelor's degree in 1984.

Career

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.[4] 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 in 1987, creating a menu influenced by the cuisine of his family's native Calabria and rife with local seasonal ingredients.[5][6] He remained at Tra Vigne until 2001.[7]

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 Bistecca Italian Steakhouse in Scottsdale, Arizona.

In the 1990s, Chiarello launched a line of flavored oils named Consorzio.[5] Chiarello owned a winery called Chiarello Family Vineyards, located in Yountville, California.[8] Chiarello also owned NapaStyle in Yountville, California, which sold a selection of exclusive drinkware, serverware, and designer tabletop pieces, which closed on January 4, 2016.[9]

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, which won an Emmy.[5]

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.

In 2011, Chiarello appeared in the Visit California promotional film aimed at boosting tourism from the UK.

Sexual harassment allegations

In March 2016, two former employees of Coqueta filed two lawsuits against Chiarello and his restaurant group Gruppo Chiarello, alleging sexual harassment and labor law violations.[10][11] In 2017, the sexual harassment lawsuit was settled for an undisclosed amount.[12]

Personal life

His first marriage to Ines Bartel ended in divorce.[1] He had two daughters from the first marriage, Margaux, and Felicia.[1] He also had a younger daughter named Giana O’Shaughnessy.[1] In 2003, Chiarello married Eileen Marie Gordon, with whom he had one son, Aidan, born in 2005.[1] In 2019, Chiarello filed for divorce from Gordon, however the paperwork was not finalized at the time of his death in 2023.[1]

Chiarello died on October 6, 2023 in Napa, at the age of 61, after being hospitalized for an allergic reaction that led to anaphylaxis.[13][14][15]

Cookbooks

  • Chiarello, Michael (1996). Michael Chiarello's Flavored Oils and Vinegars: 100 Recipes for Cooking with Infused Oils and Vinegars. Chronicle Book. ISBN 9780811808729.
  • Chiarello, Michael (1999). The Tra Vigne Cookbook: Seasons in the California Wine Country. Chronicle Books.
  • Chiarello, Michael (2001). Napa Stories Wine Journal. Stewart, Tabori & Chang. ISBN 9781584791317.
  • Chiarello, Michael; Fletcher, Janet (2001). Napa Stories: Profiles, Reflections, and Recipes from the Napa Valley. Harry N. Abrams. ISBN 9781584791164.
  • Chiarello, Michael; Fletcher, Janet (2002). Michael Chiarello's Casual Cooking: Wine Country Recipes for Family and Friends. Chronicle Books. ISBN 9780811833837.[16]
  • Chiarello, Michael (2005). At Home with Michael Chiarello: Easy Entertaining Recipes, Ideas, Inspiration. Chronicle Books. ISBN 9780811840484.
  • Chiarello, Michael (2010). Bottega: Bold Italian Flavors from the Heart of California's Wine Country. Chronicle Books.
  • Chiarello, Michael; Sansone, Claudia; Krueger Spivack, Ann (2013). Michael Chiarello's Live Fire: 125 Recipes for Cooking Outdoors. Chronicle Books. ISBN 9781452127347.

Filmography

TV series

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h Severson, Kim (October 11, 2023). "Michael Chiarello, Chef and Food Network Star, Dies at 61". The New York Times. pp. Section A, Page 25.
  2. ^ "Welcome Home". Bottega Napa Valley. Retrieved November 15, 2022.
  3. ^ Webmaster (May 23, 2011). "Chef Michael Chiarello '82, Napa Valley Tastemaker". CIA Culinary School. Retrieved November 15, 2022.
  4. ^ "Michael Chiarello: Cause of death revealed for celebrity chef". KIRO 7 News Seattle. November 23, 2023. Retrieved March 10, 2024.
  5. ^ a b c Fish, Tim (October 9, 2023). "Celebrity Chef Michael Chiarello Dies at 61". Wine Spectator.
  6. ^ "Goodbye Tra Vigne, Hello New Christopher Kostow Venture". Sonoma Magazine. November 2, 2015. Retrieved March 10, 2024.
  7. ^ Fish, Tim (June 21, 2001). "Three Top Napa Valley Chefs Begin New Ventures". Wine Spectator.
  8. ^ "Chiarello Family Vineyards Tasting Room opens". The Napa Valley Register. June 28, 2016. Retrieved March 10, 2024.
  9. ^ Fort, Ellen (December 3, 2015). "Michael Chiarello to Rebrand NapaStyle as Eataly-Style Food Emporium". Eater SF. Retrieved November 15, 2022.
  10. ^ "Local Chef And Restaurateur Michael Chiarello Arrested For DUI". Law Firm of Aaron Bortel. December 5, 2016. Retrieved November 15, 2022.
  11. ^ Fort, Ellen (March 15, 2016). "Celebrity Chef Michael Chiarello Hit With Sexual Harassment Lawsuit [Update]". Eater SF. Retrieved June 14, 2021.
  12. ^ "Sexually charged: Are harassment claims declining?". North Bay Business Journal. November 21, 2016. Retrieved June 14, 2021.
  13. ^ Leonard, Christian (October 7, 2023). "Bay Area celebrity chef Michael Chiarello dies at 61". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved October 7, 2023.
  14. ^ Saria, Lauren (October 10, 2023). "Food Network Star Michael Chiarello Dies After Severe Allergic Reaction". Eater SF. Retrieved March 10, 2024.
  15. ^ Zee, Michaela (October 8, 2023). "Michael Chiarello, Celebrity Chef and Former Food Network Star, Dies at 61". Variety. Retrieved March 10, 2024.
  16. ^ "Michael Chiarello's Casual Cooking by Michael Chiarello". Publishers Weekly. July 1, 2002. ISSN 0000-0019. Retrieved March 10, 2024.
  17. ^ Bon Appétit, Volume 47, Issues 8-11. Bon Appétit Publishing Corporation. August 2002. p. 110.
  18. ^ "Bay Area chef, TV personality Michael Chiarello dies after being treated for allergic reaction". CBS San Francisco. October 9, 2023. Retrieved March 10, 2024.
  19. ^ L., Stolpman (July 16, 2009). "Top Chef Masters Recap: Week 5". Chicagoist. Archived from the original on July 17, 2009.
  20. ^ "Is he the Next Iron Chef? Up close with Chef Michael Chiarello". The Orange County Register. December 8, 2011. Retrieved March 10, 2024.
  21. ^ Sun, Jasmin (June 12, 2013). "Michael Chiarello to Mentor on Supermarket Superstar". Eater.