Michael Chiarello, Celebrity Chef and Former Food Network Star, Dies at 61

variety.com:

Michaela Zee Michael Chiarello, a celebrity chef and former Food Network star, has died. He was 61. Chiarello died Saturday at Queen of the Valley Medical Center in Napa, Calif., where he was being treated for an acute allergic reaction that led to anaphylactic shock, his company Gruppo Chiarello announced in a statement. “We deeply mourn the loss of our beloved patriarch Michael.

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,” the Chiarello family shared in a statement. “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 hosted shows on PBS, Food Network, Fine Living and Cooking Channel for a decade, as well as appeared as a guest chef on the “Today” show and “The View.” His Emmy-winning cooking show “Easy Entertaining With Michael Chiarello” ran for 10 seasons on Food Network.

Chiarello served as a judge on Bravo’s “Top Chef” and “Top Chef Masters.” In 2011, he participated in Food Network’s “Next Iron Chef” competition.