Top Chef

Michael Chiarello, a celebrity chef, died this weekend ... and it was apparently sudden.

The former "Food Network" star passed away Saturday while being treated at the Queen of the Valley Medical Center in Napa, CA -- and, as it turns out, his hospitalization is the result of a fatal allergy attack ... this according to his own company.

Gruppo Chiarello announced Sunday what led up to their founder's death, saying an acute allergic reaction resulted in anaphylactic shock. They also say he was surrounded by friends and family in his final moments. It's unclear if the allergic reaction was food-related.

The team adds, "We deeply mourn the loss of our beloved patriarch Michael," the Chiarello family said in a statement. "His culinary brilliance, boundless creativity, and unwavering commitment to family were at the core of his being. He brought people together through the joy of shared meals, fostering lasting memories around the table."

Gruppo Chiarello finishes by saying, "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."

The star chef had a long run on TV, with his show "Easy Entertaining With Michael Chiarello" airing for 10 seasons on FN. He was also featured on hit series like "Top Chef," "Chopped," "The Next Iron Chef" and others ... not to mention appearances on other talk shows.

He's survived by his wife, Eileen, and his four children. Michael was 61.

Novelist Salman Rushdie, who has received death threats for years because of his work, was just attacked and possibly stabbed during an event.

The author, who was formerly married to "Top Chef" host Padma Lakshmi, was set to give a speech Friday at the Chautauqua Institution in New York. Reports say Rushdie was on stage, when someone jumped up and struck him multiple times. Reports say Rushdie was stabbed during the incident.

His current condition is unknown, but the attacker has reportedly been taken into custody.

Rushdie's novel, "The Satanic Verses," sparked tons of controversy in the 80's ... with the book getting banned from Iran for being deemed blasphemous, as it had references that mocked the Prophet Muhammad and Islamic culture as a whole.

In 1989, Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Khomeini called on Muslims to kill the Indian-born writer and his publishers because of what he wrote.

Howard Kleinberg of 'Top Chef' fame has died from a heart attack.

The kitchen wiz -- who appeared on the third season of the reality show -- passed away last week, which was made public in a local obituary. Howard's mother told the Miami Herald, "I am just finding out how many lives he touched. He was married to his passion in life, which was his cooking."

She also confirmed he'd suffered a heart attack.

Bravo addressed Kleinbeg's death as well, writing ... "The Top Chef family is saddened to learn about the unexpected passing of Howard Kleinberg from season three. Howie’s passion for cooking filled so many and our deepest sympathy goes out to his family and friends."

HK is best remembered for competing in "Top Chef: Miami" in 2007, where he placed seventh. Afterward, he opened his own restaurant in town called Bulldog Barbecue -- among other eateries as well -- and found success in the local scene.

It was actually a memorable run for Kleinberg -- with one of his highlights from that season being a tense conversation he had with the late Anthony Bourdain, who was chastising him over speed in the kitchen ... only to have the tables turned on him by Howard dropping a Bourdain quote from one of his books, which left AB thoroughly impressed.

Kleinberg is survived by his mom, his stepdad, his sister and her children. He was 46.

'Top Chef' star Justin Sutherland is on the road to recovery after his freak boat accident over the 4th of July weekend ... but he's not out of the woods just yet.

A rep for Chef Justin tells us he was allowed to get some fresh air Monday outside the hospital in Minnesota where he's been getting treatment. We're told this really uplifted his spirits, mostly because he could see friends and family that had been restricted because of COVID protocols.

However, Tuesday will be another surgery day for Justin which will include substantial facial work. He'll also have to undergo dental work and additional surgeries in the future.

As for what happened ... The "Fast Foodies" host was piloting his boat over the holiday weekend when his hat blew off his head. As he went to grab it, he hit a big wave, knocking him overboard right near the propeller, gashing his head, face and arm.

"Top Chef" contestant Fatima Ali has died after a battle with bone cancer.

Ali -- who was very public with her diagnosis and fight -- sent a message out to fans a couple weeks ago saying, "I know it’s been ages since I posted and most may have figured out why. I’m sick and unfortunately I’m getting sicker. Right now all I need are prayers; prayers that are simple."

Her friend and former contestant from "Top Chef" announced Friday that she had passed away.

It was back in October when Fatima announced her cancer had returned ... and doctors said she had a year left to live. Fatima appeared on "Ellen" a short time later where the talk show host gave her $50,000 to live out her dream of visiting the world's best restaurants.

Fatima appeared on season 15 of the "Top Chef" reality competition, and was voted a fan favorite.

Ali was 29 years old.

Celebrity chefs Emeril Lagasse and John Besh are cooking for a cause ... helping tornado victims in New Orleans.

The chefs have opened their wallets and offered up food after 7 tornadoes ripped through the City's 9th Ward Tuesday, destroying dozens of homes and leaving dozens injured.

Emeril donated to the Second Harvest Food Bank. The org has already distributed more than 23,000 pounds of food.

Meanwhile, John -- a former regular on 'Iron Chef' shows -- and his partner, Alon Shaya, have used one of their restaurants to whip up 500 meals for locals.

Emeril has 4 restaurants in New Orleans, and John -- a Louisiana native -- has 15.

"Top Chef" winner Paul Qui was arrested for allegedly assaulting his girlfriend, after she told cops he beat her up while high on a combination of coke, Xanax, weed and alcohol.

Stephanie Rodriguez claims the season 9 winner dragged her out of bed in the wee hours of Saturday morning so she could join a party with a bunch of his friends. Rodriguez says one of Qui's pals then propositioned her for group sex which sent Qui into a rage.

Rodriguez says Qui first kicked his friends out of the house, and then turned his rage on her, throwing her up against the walls and doors and preventing her from leaving.

According to the police report, when cops arrived they found blood on the walls and floor, and all over Qui himself. Cops also say Qui admitted he got physical with Rodriguez, but said all he did was restrain her until cops arrived.

Qui was booked for two misdemeanors -- assault causing bodily injury to a family member and unlawful restraint.

NBC and Bravo got together with major cruise lines and ripped off the idea for a "Top Chef" special from 3 producers who are now suing the networks ... and crying racism -- this according to a new lawsuit.

According to the court docs ... the three accusers pitched a reality show called "Walk the Plank" to Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines and Celebrity Cruise Lines. Thirteen chefs would compete against each other on a cruise ship with the winner becoming the ship's Executive Chef.

The cruise lines rejected the idea, but soon after that NBC announced the release of "Top Chef - Chefs At Sea" -- in conjunction with the cruise companies ... according to the docs.

The producers say they're especially galled by the alleged screw job because they say NBC's networks have an agreement with the National African American Leadership Organizations to increase diversity.

NBC hasn't responded to a call for comment.

The producers not only state in the docs that 2 of them are African-American -- they add that even though the third producer is not ... she is married to a Black man.

Celebrity chef Ilan Hall -- the former "Top Chef" winner -- has just thrown in the dish towel in a lawsuit that accused him of fenneling money from investors.

Hall was sued for taking $37,500 from money men to help in the operation of his restaurant, The Gorbals in downtown L.A. And, fun fact ... it's known for bacon-wrapped matzoh balls.

But the investors claim Hall was as unkosher as his meals and pocketed the cash.

We just learned -- in a rosh to judgment -- the case settled for $25K.

"Top Chef" alum Leah Cohen -- who placed 6th on Season 5 of the show -- is in dire straits with her NYC restaurant Pig & Khao ... and now she's suing the restaurant's management company, blaming it for all her financial woes.

Leah filed the lawsuit against New York Restaurant Services Group -- owned by famed restaurateur Rick Camac -- claiming she signed a 50/50 business deal with it last year, agreeing to split ownership of her restaurant in exchange for its management services.

Leah says NYRSG agreed to oversee Pig & Khao's operations, including finances, development, marketing, advertising, training of staff, and a bunch of other management-related tasks -- but ended up getting Pig & Khao into a heap of money troubles instead.

According to Leah, NYRSG failed to pay the restaurant's suppliers, its staff, its landlord, and even the Tax Man -- resulting in massive unpaid bills and frozen bank accounts -- but still insisted on paying itself a 3% management fee.

Leah -- who claims to have invested $400,000 in the business with her father -- says the restaurant owes the government $47,283, her landlord is threatening to throw her out, and she's on the brink of losing everything.

She says the restaurant is "clearly failing," and has been operating at a loss pretty much since it opened last fall. (For what it's worth, Pig & Khao has stellar Yelp and Zagat reviews. So check it out.)

She is suing NYRSG for unspecified damages, and wants to terminate their business relationship ASAP. A rep for NYRSG had no comment.