Napa restaurateur, TV chef Michael Chiarello dead at 61

Chiarello had been hospitalized for a week at Providence Queen of the Valley Medical Center in Napa after an acute allergic reaction led to anaphylactic shock, according to a news release from his restaurant group, Gruppo Chiarello.

“We deeply mourn the loss of our beloved patriarch Michael,” the group said in a statement posted at 2:40 p.m. “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.

“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 in 1962, Chiarello left his first mark in the Napa Valley with his 1987 opening of St. Helena-based Tra Vigne, which operated until 2015 and became an early institution in what eventually became a flourishing wine country food scene. He later founded Bottega, Ottimo and Coqueta Napa Valley in Yountville, and another Coqueta at the Embarcadero in San Francisco.

Chiarello found an audience far beyond Napa County during a decade-long run of television appearances on PBS, Food Network and other channels. He was a frequent judge on the Bravo shows “Top Chef” and “Top Chef Masters,” took part in Food Network’s 2011 “Next Iron Chef” competition, and won an Emmy Award for “Easy Entertaining with Michael Chiarello,” which debuted in 2003 on Food Network and was shot on location in Napa.

Chiarello also ventured into winemaking with the launch of Chiarello Family Vineyards in 1999, and the NapaStyle kitchenware and home goods label a year later.

Later, Chiarello faced allegations of sexual misconduct connected to his restaurants. In March 2016, two women working as servers at the San Francisco Coqueta sued the restaurateur for sexual harassment and wage theft. Plaintiffs Katherine Page and Asja Sever alleged misbehavior that included inappropriate touching and lewd comments about women, according to court documents.

Chiarello, who denied the allegations, and his restaurant companies settled the suit in November of that year before the case could go to trial in San Francisco Superior Court.

Funeral arrangements for Chiarello will remain private, and in lieu of flowers, his family will request donations to Meals on Wheels, Gruppo Chiarello said in its statement.