Michael Chiarello was born in Red Bluff, California, in 1962, where his Southern Italian heritage spurred his dreams of one day becoming a chef. In 1985, just three years after graduating from the Culinary Institute of America in New York, Michael Chiarello was named Chef of the Year by Food & Wine.
From hosting the Food Network series “Easy Entertaining with Michael Chiarello” to appearing on Bravo’s “Top Chef Masters” and “Next Iron Chef,” wherever there was an opportunity, Chiarello was not far behind. He is also remembered as the author of eight widely commended culinary books, a pioneer for sustainable living and eco-friendly vineyards, and an esteemed restaurateur.
His legacy will endure through his restaurants, including Bottega, Coqueta, and Ottimo. These can be enjoyed in Napa Valley, as a preamble to the Napa Valley Wine Train, or during a pit stop in San Francisco. His legacy will also live on in the fundamental values he embraced, such as featuring seasonal, sustainable produce and crafting precious family bonds through a shared love of food.