View source for Michael Chiarello

{{Short description|American chef (1962–2023)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2023}}

{{more citations needed|date=October 2023}}
{{Infobox chef <!-- for more information see [[:Template:Infobox chef/doc]] -->
|name=Michael Chiarello| image      = Michael Chiarello 2015.jpg
| caption    =  Chiarello in 2015
| birth_date  = {{Birth date|1962|1|26}}
| birth_place = [[Red Bluff, California]], U.S.
| death_date = {{Death date and age|2023|10|6|1962|1|26}}
| death_place = [[Napa, California]], U.S.
| spouse = Ines Bartel (divorced),<br /> Eileen Marie Gordon (m. 2003–2019; separated)
| children = 4
| style      = [[Cuisine of California|Californian]], [[Cuisine of Italy|Italian]]
| education  = [[Florida International University]],<br /> [[Culinary Institute of America]]
|restaurants=|prevrests={{plainlist| 
* Coqueta, San Francisco, California (2013–?)
* Coqueta, Yountville, California
* Bottega Restaurant, Yountville, California (2008–20??)
* Ottimo
* Tra Vigne, St. Helena, California (1987–2001)
}}
| television =
{{plainlist|
*NapaStyle (2004)
*[[Supermarket Superstar]] (2013) }}
|awards=Daytime Emmy Award (2003)|website=http://michaelchiarello.com/}}

'''Michael Dominic Chiarello''' (January 26, 1962 – October 6, 2023)<ref name=":0">{{Cite news |last=Severson |first=Kim |date=October 11, 2023 |title=Michael Chiarello, Chef and Food Network Star, Dies at 61 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/10/11/dining/michael-chiarello-dead.html |work=[[The New York Times]] |pages=Section A, Page 25}}</ref> was an American [[celebrity chef]], restauranteur, and businessperson, who was known for [[Cuisine of Italy|Italian]]-influenced [[Cuisine of California|California cuisine]]. He hosted the [[cooking show|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 AVA|Napa Valley]], California and San Francisco, California.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Welcome Home |url=https://www.botteganapavalley.com/ |access-date=November 15, 2022 |website=Bottega Napa Valley |language=en-US}}</ref> 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.<ref name=":0" /> He began cooking with his family at a young age.<ref name=":0" />

After graduating in 1982 from the [[Culinary Institute of America]] in [[Hyde Park, New York|Hyde Park]], New York,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Webmaster |date=May 23, 2011 |title=Chef Michael Chiarello '82, Napa Valley Tastemaker |url=https://blog.ciachef.edu/michael-chiarello-bio/ |access-date=November 15, 2022 |website=CIA Culinary School |language=en-US}}</ref> he studied [[Hospitality management studies|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]]''.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-11-23 |title=Michael Chiarello: Cause of death revealed for celebrity chef |url=https://www.kiro7.com/news/trending/michael-chiarello-cause-death-revealed-celebrity-chef/2N7DT4JUM5CUVMKRZHRIPVNSUI/ |access-date=2024-03-10 |website=KIRO 7 News Seattle |language=en}}</ref> 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.<ref name=":1">{{Cite news |last=Fish |first=Tim |date=October 9, 2023 |title=Celebrity Chef Michael Chiarello Dies at 61 |url=https://www.winespectator.com/articles/napa-celebrity-chef-michael-chiarello-of-bottega-dies-at-61 |work=Wine Spectator}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last= |date=2015-11-02 |title=Goodbye Tra Vigne, Hello New Christopher Kostow Venture |url=https://www.sonomamag.com/goodbye-tra-vigne-hello-new-christopher-kostow-venture/ |access-date=2024-03-10 |website=Sonoma Magazine |language=en-US}}</ref> He remained at Tra Vigne until 2001.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Fish |first=Tim |date=June 21, 2001 |title=Three Top Napa Valley Chefs Begin New Ventures |url=https://www.winespectator.com/articles/three-top-napa-valley-chefs-begin-new-ventures-20079 |work=Wine Spectator}}</ref>

He has since served as executive chef in numerous American restaurants, including Caffe Museo in [[San Francisco, California|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.<ref name=":1" /> Chiarello owned a [[winery]] called Chiarello Family Vineyards, located in [[Yountville, California]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2016-06-28 |title=Chiarello Family Vineyards Tasting Room opens |url=https://napavalleyregister.com/star/wine/chiarello-family-vineyards-tasting-room-opens/article_3d2f36f2-0bea-5e13-bc84-36f8dfa2187f.html |access-date=2024-03-10 |website=[[The Napa Valley Register]] |language=en}}</ref> Chiarello also owned ''NapaStyle'' in [[Yountville, California|Yountville]], California, which sold a selection of exclusive drinkware, serverware, and designer tabletop pieces, which closed on January 4, 2016.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Fort |first=Ellen |date=December 3, 2015 |title=Michael Chiarello to Rebrand NapaStyle as Eataly-Style Food Emporium |url=https://sf.eater.com/2015/12/3/9845316/michael-chiarello-yountville-napastyle-food-emporium |access-date=November 15, 2022 |website=[[Eater SF]] |language=en}}</ref>

==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 Awards|Emmy]].<ref name=":1" />

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 (season 1)|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.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |date=December 5, 2016 |title=Local Chef And Restaurateur Michael Chiarello Arrested For DUI |url=https://www.bortelduidefense.com/local-chef-and-restaurateur-michael-chiarello-arrested-for-dui/ |access-date=November 15, 2022 |website=Law Firm of Aaron Bortel}}</ref><ref name="eater">{{Cite web |last=Fort |first=Ellen |date=March 15, 2016 |title=Celebrity Chef Michael Chiarello Hit With Sexual Harassment Lawsuit [Update] |url=https://sf.eater.com/2016/3/15/11241146/michael-chiarello-sexual-harassment-lawsuit |access-date=June 14, 2021 |website=[[Eater (website)|Eater]] SF |language=en}}</ref> In 2017, the sexual harassment lawsuit was settled for an undisclosed amount.<ref>{{Cite web |date=November 21, 2016 |title=Sexually charged: Are harassment claims declining? |url=https://www.northbaybusinessjournal.com/article/industry-news/napa-valley-chef-michael-chiarello-settles-sexual-harassment-lawsuit/ |access-date=June 14, 2021 |website=[[North Bay Business Journal]] |language=en-US}}</ref>

==Personal life==
His first marriage to Ines Bartel ended in divorce.<ref name=":0" /> He had two daughters from the first marriage, Margaux and Felicia.<ref name=":0" /> He also had a younger daughter named Giana O’Shaughnessy.<ref name=":0" /> In 2003, Chiarello married Eileen Marie Gordon, with whom he had one son, Aidan, born in 2005.<ref name=":0" /> In 2019, Chiarello filed for divorce from Gordon; however, the paperwork was not finalized at the time of his death in 2023.<ref name=":0" />

== Death ==

Chiarello died on October 6, 2023 in [[Napa County, California|Napa]], at the age of 61, after being hospitalized for an allergic reaction that led to [[anaphylaxis]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Leonard |first1=Christian |date=October 7, 2023 |title=Bay Area celebrity chef Michael Chiarello dies at 61 |url=https://www.sfchronicle.com/food/restaurants/article/chef-michael-chiarello-dies-18412834.php |access-date=October 7, 2023 |publisher=[[San Francisco Chronicle]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Saria |first=Lauren |date=2023-10-10 |title=Food Network Star Michael Chiarello Dies After Severe Allergic Reaction |url=https://sf.eater.com/2023/10/10/23911304/michael-chiarello-allergic-reaction |access-date=2024-03-10 |website=[[Eater SF]] |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Zee |first=Michaela |date=2023-10-08 |title=Michael Chiarello, Celebrity Chef and Former Food Network Star, Dies at 61 |url=https://variety.com/2023/tv/news/michael-chiarello-dead-food-network-1235748613/ |access-date=2024-03-10 |website=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |language=en-US}}</ref>

==Cookbooks==
* {{Cite book |last=Chiarello |first=Michael |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6xgKAAAACAAJ |title=Michael Chiarello's Flavored Oils and Vinegars: 100 Recipes for Cooking with Infused Oils and Vinegars |publisher=Chronicle Book |year=1996 |isbn=9780811808729}}
* {{Cite book |last=Chiarello |first=Michael |title=The Tra Vigne Cookbook: Seasons in the California Wine Country |publisher=Chronicle Books |year=1999}}
* {{Cite book |last=Chiarello |first=Michael |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=00kNAAAACAAJ |title=Napa Stories Wine Journal |publisher=Stewart, Tabori & Chang |year=2001 |isbn=9781584791317}}
* {{Cite book |last1=Chiarello |first1=Michael |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=XN4gAQAAIAAJ |title=Napa Stories: Profiles, Reflections, and Recipes from the Napa Valley |last2=Fletcher |first2=Janet |publisher=Harry N. Abrams |year=2001 |isbn=9781584791164}}
* {{Cite book |last1=Chiarello |first1=Michael |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bXeLlXkfNXEC |title=Michael Chiarello's Casual Cooking: Wine Country Recipes for Family and Friends |last2=Fletcher |first2=Janet |publisher=Chronicle Books |year=2002 |isbn=9780811833837}}<ref>{{Cite web |date=July 1, 2002 |title=Michael Chiarello's Casual Cooking by Michael Chiarello |url=https://www.publishersweekly.com/9780811833837 |access-date=2024-03-10 |website=[[Publishers Weekly]] |issn=0000-0019}}</ref>
* {{Cite book |last=Chiarello |first=Michael |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=yowE60YVLakC |title=At Home with Michael Chiarello: Easy Entertaining Recipes, Ideas, Inspiration |publisher=Chronicle Books |year=2005 |isbn=9780811840484}}
* {{Cite book |last=Chiarello |first=Michael |title=Bottega: Bold Italian Flavors from the Heart of California's Wine Country |publisher=Chronicle Books |year=2010}}
* {{Cite book |last1=Chiarello |first1=Michael |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1v-wa7-ClpAC |title=Michael Chiarello's Live Fire: 125 Recipes for Cooking Outdoors |last2=Sansone |first2=Claudia |last3=Krueger Spivack |first3=Ann |publisher=Chronicle Books |year=2013 |isbn=9781452127347}}

== Filmography ==

=== TV series ===

* 2000, ''Season by Season'', [[PBS]]
* 2001, ''Michael Chiarello's Napa'', PBS
* 2002, ''Michael Chiarello's Napa: Casual Cooking'', PBS<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7iYtAQAAMAAJ |title=Bon Appétit, Volume 47, Issues 8-11 |date=August 2002 |publisher=Bon Appétit Publishing Corporation |pages=110 |language=en}}</ref>
* 2003, ''Easy Entertaining with Michael Chiarello'' (10 seasons)
* 2004, NapaStyle<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-10-09 |title=Bay Area chef, TV personality Michael Chiarello dies after being treated for allergic reaction |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/sanfrancisco/news/michael-chiarello-napa-sf-chef-tv-personality-dies-treated-allergic-reaction/ |access-date=2024-03-10 |website=CBS San Francisco |language=en-US}}</ref>
* 2009, ''[[Top Chef Masters (season 1)|Top Chef Masters]];''<ref>{{Cite web |last=L. |first=Stolpman |date=July 16, 2009 |title=Top Chef Masters Recap: Week 5 |url=http://chicagoist.com/2009/07/16/top_chef_master_recap_week_5.php |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090717222618/http://chicagoist.com/2009/07/16/top_chef_master_recap_week_5.php |archive-date=July 17, 2009 |website=Chicagoist}}</ref> lost to [[Rick Bayless]]
* 2011, ''[[The Next Iron Chef]]'';<ref>{{Cite web |date=2011-12-08 |title=Is he the Next Iron Chef? Up close with Chef Michael Chiarello |url=https://www.ocregister.com/2011/12/08/is-he-the-next-iron-chef-up-close-with-chef-michael-chiarello/ |access-date=2024-03-10 |website=[[The Orange County Register]] |language=en-US}}</ref> lost to [[Geoffrey Zakarian]]
* 2013, ''[[Supermarket Superstar]]<ref>{{cite web |last=Sun |first=Jasmin |date=June 12, 2013 |title=Michael Chiarello to Mentor on Supermarket Superstar |url=http://eater.com/archives/2013/06/12/supermarket-superstar-to-air-july-22-on-lifetime.php |access-date= |work=Eater}}</ref>''

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.michaelchiarello.com/ Official website]
* {{IMDb name|id=nm1861566}}
* [http://www.chefdb.com/nm/15380/ Michael Chiarello], ChefDb

{{Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lifestyle/Culinary Show Host}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Chiarello, Michael}}
[[Category:1962 births]]
[[Category:2023 deaths]]
[[Category:American male chefs]]
[[Category:American people of Italian descent]]
[[Category:American television chefs]]
[[Category:Chefs of Italian cuisine]]
[[Category:Culinary Institute of America alumni]]
[[Category:Deaths from anaphylaxis]]
[[Category:Florida International University alumni]]
[[Category:Food Network chefs]]
[[Category:People from Red Bluff, California]]
[[Category:People from Yountville, California]]
[[Category:Respiratory disease deaths in California]]
[[Category:People from Napa, California]]