Michael Chiarello, Food Network Star, Dead At 61

Michael Chiarello was deeply passionate about food — especially the way it could enrich a person’s life. His passion was evidenced not just by his culinary success, but also by the way he spoke about it through the years. During a 2015 interview with Food Republic, Chiarello pulled from his decades of culinary expertise to reveal how to create the most romantic dinner date. After agreeing with the reporter that his Bottega restaurant was a “magical” place for couples to get engaged, he revealed where he’d take his then-wife. “If I was picking, it would probably be something like Kokkari,” said the chef. “It’s a Greek place. A beautiful, sexy spot. Really lush with food eaten out of hand. There’s a lot of feeding each other there. The lamb, the hummus, the Greek wine. There’s something about the Greek Islands.” Ultimately, the most important factor was choosing a restaurant that evoked romantic memories for the couple, however.

Chiarello put just as much thought into his own personal kitchen. While most chefs would probably prioritize having the latest state-of-the-art appliances and the freshest farm-grown food, Chiarello spent a lot of time picking out the perfect lighting, proving that he really understood the power of ambiance. “I don’t care what kind of stove I use as long as it heats up nice and fast, but I spent a lot of time trying to figure out the right lighting in this kitchen,” Chiarello previously wrote for Saveur.