TV chef Michael Chiarello has died at the age of 61 after an allergic reaction.
The talented chef was a judge on Bravo's Top Chef and Top Chef Masters, as well as being a regular guest on the Today Show and The View. His hit show Easy Entertaining with Michael Chiarello also won him an Emmy.
He died on Friday in hospital where he was being treated for an acute allergic reaction, which led to anaphylactic shock.
His devastated family said in 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.
"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 savour life's flavours.”
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Chiarello was named Food & Wine Magazine's Chef of the Year Award in 1985, just three years after graduating from the Culinary Institute of America. In 2013, Esquire magazine handed him the same title.
Before his death, Chiarello ran a number of restaurants and authored a series of cookbooks. He lived in his vineyards in Napa Valley with his wife and children.
Chiarello was born in 1962 in Turlock, California, and loved cooking throughout his children. He enjoyed a classic Italian and used to help his mum in the kitchen. He won his first restaurant apprenticeship aged just 14.
The chef was accused of sexual harassment by two former employees in 2016, but he denied all claims. Both lawsuits were settled the following year, with Chiarello largely stepping out of the spotlight afterwards.
