'Food Network' Star Michael Chiarello's Cause Of Death Revealed

Food Network star and celebrity chef Michael Chiarello has passed away at the age of 61, after being rushed to a hospital.  

According to his family, Chiarello died surrounded by his loved ones at the Queen of the Valley Medical Center in Napa, where he was receiving treatment for an "acute allergic reaction."

The family issued a statement, saying the late chef will be remembered for his "culinary brilliance, boundless creativity, and unwavering commitment to family."

Michael Chiarello, a celebrity chef, has passed away at the age of 61. 

According to a statement by his company, Gruppo Chiarello, the former Food Network star died in Napa, California, where he was receiving treatment for an acute allergic reaction, which led to him having an anaphylactic shock that caused his death.

A statement from his family reads, "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."

They continued: "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 savor life's flavors."

Chiarello was born and raised in Red Bluff, California, in 1962. He was known for hosting food-related shows on networks like Food Network, PBS, and Cooking Channel. 

The famous chef opened his first restaurant in Napa Valley in 1987 called Tra Vigne, per Business Wire. He then went on to open other restaurants, including Ottimo and Bottega, also located in Napa Valley, and a Spanish place, Coquet, which can be found in various parts of Napa Valley and San Francisco's Pier 5.

Chiarello, who was awarded Chef of the Year by Esquire Magazine in 2013, was also in the business of making wines, going on to establish the Chiarello Family Vineyards in 1999. A year later, He created a retail line of artisanal foods, home products, and kitchenware called NapaStyle, per People.

Besides hosting popular food shows, Chiarello appeared on talk shows such as "The View" and "Today," according to his website.

During his successful career as a chef, Chiarello was also faced with a severe scandal in 2016 after he was accused of sexual harassment by two of his former employees who worked at his Coqueta restaurant. He denied their allegations, and by the following year, the lawsuits filed by the former employees were settled, according to SFGATE.