Celebrity chef Michael Chiarello has died at 61. He is known for opening restaurants around San Francisco and Napa Valley, including Coqueta and Ottimo.
Courtesy of Yelp user Lily K.Bay Area celebrity chef Michael Chiarello died at the age of 61 on Friday night, the San Francisco Chronicle reported.
Chiarello was known for opening various restaurants around Napa Valley and San Francisco, including Coqueta, Ottimo and Bottega. He also hosted the show “Easy Entertaining” on the Food Network and owned the Chiarello Family Vineyards in Yountville.
Chiarello died at Queen of the Valley Medical Center in Napa due to an allergic reaction that resulted in anaphylactic shock, Business Wire reported. He had been at the hospital receiving treatment for the allergic reaction over the past week.
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“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,” Chiarello’s family shared in a statement, according to Business Wire.
Chiarello was famous for his Italian-inspired Californian cuisine. In 1987, he opened his first restaurant, Tra Vigne, in Napa Valley.
In 2016, Chiarello was accused of sexual harassment by two former Coqueta employees. Lawsuits filed by the former employees were settled the following year.
Chiarello’s restaurant group Gruppo Chiarello operates four restaurants: Bottega, Ottimo and Coqueta in Yountville, along with a second Coqueta location on San Francisco’s Embarcadero.
