The Devastating 2015 Death Of Michelin Chef Homaro Cantu

Born in 1976, Homaro Cantu didn't have a simple life (per The Guardian). As a child growing up in Portland, Oregon, he and his sister made their dwellings in numerous homeless shelters, with their mom only present some of the time. Cantu finally got away when he moved in with his father at 11, but because his father required him to pay rent, he was forced to get a job at only 13. As an employee of a chicken restaurant, he had his first experience in the kitchen. As soon as he was old enough, he enrolled at Portland's Western Culinary Institute and continued his cooking career at various restaurants.

His career only accelerated from there, and eventually, he became the owner of Chicago's Michelin-starred restaurant Moto (per The New York Times). The unique high-end eatery featured edible menus and aromatic flatware, but unfortunately, it closed shortly after Cantu's death. Cantu was also the owner a café named Berrista and working toward a brewery he called Crooked Fork. Sadly, his dreams of an innovative brewery were stunted for good when he met a tragic fate at 38.

According to the Chicago Tribune, Michelin-starred chef Homaro Cantu was tragically found dead of an apparent suicide in April of 2015. Authorities reported to the scene at the 4400 block of West Montrose Avenue, Chicago where Cantu was planning to open his brewery, Crooked Fork, at about 1 p.m. This came one month after the chef was sued by a Moto investor, Alexander Espalin, who claimed Cantu was using company money for personal reasons. "I'm saddened, I'm broken up," Trevor Rose-Hamblin, who was set to be Crooked Fork's brewer, said. "This guy was my best friend. He was going to be my business partner."

Friends and family of Cantu found the news of his death baffling. "He was in a good mood, he was happy, we were talking about the future and all the good stuff that's going on," Rose-Hamblin said to The New York Times. His wife, Katie McGowan, said that Cantu left no note, and that he had no history of depression.

If you or anyone you know is having suicidal thoughts, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline​ by dialing 988 or by calling 1-800-273-TALK (8255)​.