Former “Top Chef” star Howard Kleinberg died at the age of 46 over the weekend after suffering a heart attack, his mother confirmed.
“I am just finding out how many lives he touched,” she said of her son, who owned and ran Bulldog Barbecue in North Miami for 10 years. “He was married to his passion in life, which was his cooking.”
The very loved and cared for Chef’s funeral was held on Tuesday.
Kleinberg appeared on the third season of “Top Chef” after Terry Zarikian, culinary director of the South Beach food festival, recommended him for the Bravo cooking competition series. He ended up coming in seventh place.
“The ‘Top Chef’ family is saddened to learn about the unexpected passing of Howard Kleinberg from season three,” Bravo said in a statement. “Howie’s passion for cooking filled so many and our deepest sympathy goes out to his family and friends.”
Just four months ago, Kleinberg had begun working at the Coconut Grove, Fla., restaurant the Peacock Garden Resto Bar + Grill as an executive chef.
“We at Peacock Garden are saddened by the passing of chef Howie Kleinberg,” the restaurant said in a statement. “Howie was a valued member of our team and we extend our deepest sympathies to his family.”
Kleinberg’s successful career as a chef began inside the kitchen at the Hotel Intercontinental in Miami, Kleinberg worked to support philanthropic causes close to his heart, including contributing to “Taste of the Nation,” which raises money to address childhood hunger.
Kleinberg also worked hard to raise money for animal shelters and even rescued a dog named Skye.
Kleinberg’s family requested, that any donations made in his memory, were to be donated to the pet rescue Bullies-N-Beyond Rescue or to Feeding South Florida.
