Food Network Chef Michael Chiarello Dies at 61, Family Calls It Profound Loss _

Transcript

00:00 Former Food Network star Michael Chiarello has died.

00:03 According to a statement released by the celebrity chef's company Gruppo Chiarello on October 7th,

00:09 Michael passed away at a hospital in Napa, California.

00:12 The statement explains that the cooking star was in the hospital for the past week,

00:16 being treated for an acute allergic reaction that led to anaphylactic shock.

00:21 It adds that Michael spent his final moments surrounded by family and friends.

00:25 The statement quotes his family, saying,

00:27 "We deeply mourn the loss of our beloved patriarch Michael.

00:31 His culinary brilliance, boundless creativity,

00:33 and unwavering commitment to family were at the core of his being.

00:37 He brought people together through the joy of shared meals,

00:40 fostering lasting memories around the table."

00:42 The family adds, "As we navigate this profound loss,

00:45 we hold dear the moments we cherished with him, both in his kitchens and in our hearts.

00:50 His legacy will forever live on in the love he poured into every dish

00:54 and the passion he instilled in all of us to savor life's flavors."

00:57 Chiarello, a California native, opened his first restaurant in Napa in 1987,

01:03 two years after Food & Wine magazine named him Chef of the Year.

01:07 Michael also co-founded Chiarello Family Vineyards in 1999 and released a series of

01:12 cookbooks before he made his TV debut in 2000, ultimately starring on several shows

01:17 which aired on PBS, including Michael Chiarello's Napa.

01:21 We're gonna serve these as an hors d'oeuvre.

01:23 A little stetsakino, as we say.

01:28 Oh, God, I wish you guys could smell what I smell now.

01:33 Now as these flavors come out, you can smell the chili and the anchovy.

01:39 In 2003, Chiarello began hosting the Food Network show

01:42 Easy Entertaining with Michael Chiarello, which aired for 10 seasons until 2008.

01:47 These are wonderful to serve warm, by the way.

01:50 If you're having a dinner party, put out a warm plate of olives like this.

01:53 It's just fantastic.

01:54 You can use any olive to do this, except those ones that you put your fingers in.

01:58 Those ones are better left for your fingers.

02:00 He later competed on Bravo's Top Chef Masters and also appeared on episodes of the Food Network's

02:07 "The Best Thing I Ever Ate" and "The Next Iron Chef."

02:10 His company said in their statement that funeral arrangements will remain private,

02:14 and in lieu of flowers, his family requests donations to Meals on Wheels,

02:18 quote, "ensuring his commitment to culinary excellence and sustainability lives on."

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