RIP Chef Michael Chiarello….
Such sad news for foodies like me…the brilliant Chef Michael Chiarello died suddenly last Friday…Chiarello’s family released this statement:
“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.”
Many Chefs have paid tribute to Michael, including Thomas Keller of the acclaimed Yountville restaurant The French Laundry:
Chiarello was famous for his Italian-inspired Californian cuisine. In 1987, he opened his first restaurant, Tra Vigne, in Napa Valley and never looked back.
My wife Alex and I were part of a great event at his house once, where he showcased his love of “live fire” cooking.
Chef Chiarello’s “Live Fire” Cooking!
As you can see, he meant it! He cooked a stuffed rolled pork for everyone – and he used live fire to finish the dish – here’s a video I shot at the time and you really get a sense of his love of food and the joy of cooking:
The result was delicious, and I got a shot of it as it was served at our table:
To honor Chef, I made one of the signature dishes from his “Live Fire” Cookbook…
I shared the recipe on my main blog, and if you click the story here you will see more about the Chef’s life, and the entire recipe for this “Zinfandel Onion Marmalade Bleu Cheese Burger”…
RIP Chef Michael Chiarello…
Categories: Bite Eat Swallow, Bite! Eat! Repeat!, Burgers, Cheeseburgers, Chef memoirs, Cookbooks, Fine Dining, Food, Food Travel, Recipes, Sliders, Travel, Wine
Bite! Eat! Repeat! 
Very sad news indeed.
So young and a sad loss to the foodie community