A celebrated chef, Nevada Appeal columnist and active supporter of the Carson City community has passed away.
A long-time friend of Charlie Abowd confirmed he died Saturday evening at the age of 73.
“Charlie demanded excellence, his toughness tempered by a big heart and compassionate nature,” Karel Ancona wrote in a statement to the Appeal. “He wrung the life out of every moment, never lost touch with his child within and made everyone around him feel special and seen. His loyalty ran deep, and he would do anything in his power to help when he could.”
Abowd, who grew up in the Bay Area, was the progeny of Lebanese immigrants, he told the Appeal in a 2023 interview. He and wife Karen Abowd, former Carson City supervisor, purchased the iconic Adele’s restaurant in downtown Carson from Abowd’s parents in 1998.
Adele’s was torn down in 2020 after a fire but had been a popular hangout for state legislators for decades.
“One of the alluring parts of Adele’s through the years with the legislators and lobbyists is the fact that what happened at Adele’s never went out,” Abowd previously told the Appeal.
In 2005, Abowd got to cook at the James Beard House in New York City, in the same kitchen where Julia Child once cooked.
Ancona said Abowd passed away “on the eve of the 18th anniversary of what he considered one of his greatest professional achievements — cooking dinner for 100 people at The James Beard House in New York City, an event that grew from an impromptu visit to Adele's Restaurant by Chef Daniel Boulud.”
In 2023, Abowd published a book entitled, “Recipes and Rambles that Made Adele’s a Nevada Hot Spot.” The book was co-written by Ancona, and Abowd donated profits to the Greenhouse Project (TGP), a local nonprofit co-founded by Karen Abowd.
Charlie Abowd previously told the Appeal his activism and getting people to sit around a table and talk to each other were important to him.
“We had all kinds of little things like that, and that’s what really made me happy,” he said. “What made me happy was talking about the Greenhouse Project or feeding the homeless on Record Street, what they call ‘Tent City.’ Those are the things that define me.”
Noting Adele’s significance to the community, Ancona wrote:
“They did this while building a legacy of giving to the community and encouraging patrons' participation in this endeavor, with events that included Cookies with Santa, for Toys for Tots, Reno Rodeo Denim Drive, Nevada Hopes, Paws on the Veranda, Wildhorse Rescue, Carson High athletics; too many causes to list. He spent many years feeding the homeless at Record Street in Reno and mentoring young people and aspiring chefs coming up in the industry.
“Once the Greenhouse Project was established, Concert Under the Stars and the Celebrity Chef and Harvest Dinner were changed to become fundraising events for the organization which teaches ag education and provides fresh produce to Carson's food insecure, all under the guidance of TGP president and co-founder Karen and championed by Charlie.”
According to Ancona, “Charlie was preceded in death by his parents and his sons, Paul and Eric. He is survived by the love of his life and childhood sweetheart, Karen, with whom he spent more than 54 years building a beautiful and meaningful life that includes daughter, Racquel (Scott Baker), son, Jeremiah (Nicole), and Nicole Abowd (Eric), grandchildren Austin, Cameron, Abby, Mallory and Ava, brother Michael Abowd (Wendy), sisters Colette Burau and Cyrina Abowd, cousin, Jerry Massad (Denise Clodjeaux), and a large extended family and friends who love him and whom he loved.”