18 Facts About Michael Chiarello

Michael Dominic Chiarello was an American celebrity chef, restauranteur, and businessperson, who was known for Italian-influenced California cuisine.

Michael Chiarello hosted the cooking TV shows Easy Entertaining with Michael Chiarello on Food Network and NapaStyle on Fine Living Network.

Michael Chiarello was the owner of a tapas restaurant named Coqueta and an Italian restaurant named Bottega and has locations in Napa Valley, California and San Francisco, California.

Michael Chiarello was a competitor on the fourth season of The Next Iron Chef.

Michael Dominic Chiarello was born on January 26,1962, in Red Bluff, California, to an Italian-American family.

Michael Chiarello began cooking with his family at a young age.

Later in the 1980s, Chiarello moved back to his home state of California, making his home in the Napa Valley.

Michael Chiarello 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.

Michael Chiarello has since served as executive chef in numerous American restaurants, including Caffe Museo in San Francisco; Ajax Tavern and Bump's in Aspen, Colorado; and Bistecca Italian Steakhouse in Scottsdale, Arizona.

Michael Chiarello owned a winery called Michael Chiarello Family Vineyards, located in Yountville, California.

Michael Chiarello owned NapaStyle in Yountville, California, which sold a selection of exclusive drinkware, serverware, and designer tabletop pieces, which closed on January 4,2016.

Michael Chiarello's first cooking show, Season by Season, debuted on PBS in 2001.

In 2009, Michael Chiarello was a contestant on Top Chef Masters, winning his preliminary round and advancing to the championship round, placing second to winner Rick Bayless.

In 2011, Michael Chiarello appeared in the Visit California promotional film aimed at boosting tourism from the UK.

Michael Chiarello had two daughters from the first marriage, Margaux and Felicia.

In 2003, Michael Chiarello married Eileen Marie Gordon, with whom he had one son, Aidan, born in 2005.

In 2019, Michael Chiarello filed for divorce from Gordon; however, the paperwork was not finalized at the time of his death in 2023.

Michael Chiarello died on October 6,2023 in Napa, at the age of 61, after being hospitalized for an allergic reaction that led to anaphylaxis.