MICHAEL CHIARELLO

Michael Chiarello is an American celebrity chef specializing in Italian influenced California cuisine. He hosts the cooking show, Easy Entertaining with Michael Chiarello, on the Food Network and hosts NapaStyle on the Fine Living Network. Chiraello owns a winery, Chiarello Family Vineyards, Bottega Ristorante in Napa Valley, NapaStyle, a purveyor of food, cookware, and furniture, and a competitor on the fourth season of The Next Iron Chef, where he placed as the second runner up.

Born to an Italian-American family, Chiarello rose to prominence at a young age. After graduating from the Culinary Institute of America in 1982, he studied hospitality management at Florida International University, receiving his Bachelors degree in 1984. The next year, he opened The Grand Bay Hotel in Coconut Grove, Florida and Toby’s Bar and Grill. He was honored as 1985’s Chef of the Year by Food & Wine Magazine.

His first cooking show, Season by Season, debuted on PBS in 2001. He hosted two more series for PBS, Michael Chiarello’s Napa and Michael Chiarello’s Napa: Casual Cooking over the next two years before moving to the Food Network to host Easy Entertaining in 2003. In 2004, Chiarello’s latest show, NapaStyle, premiered on the Food Network’s sister network Fine Living Network. Chiarello was included as a contestant on Top Chef Masters, winning his preliminary round and advancing to the championship round, placing second to Rick Bayless (first place). Later in the 1980s, Chiarello moved back to his home state of California, making his home in the Napa Valley. He opened the Tra Vigne restaurant, creating a menu influenced by the cuisine of his family’s native Calabria and rife with local seasonal ingredients. He 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 in Scottsdale, Arizona.

 

Restaurants:

Bottega
6526 Washington Street, A9
Yountville, CA  94599

Coqueta
Pier 5, The Embarcadero
San Francisco, CA  94111

Written By
More from jana

CATCH US BECAUSE YOU CAN

Long before the sun has started the day, the fisherman cast off...
Read More