Michael Duarte wasn’t just a food influencer—he was a storyteller with a spatula, a father who grilled with love, and a creator who turned hardship into healing. Known by his handle @FoodWithBearHands, Duarte built a following of over 2 million across Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and YouTube by sharing rustic, hands-on cooking videos—especially BBQ and grilling content that felt as real as it was mouthwatering.

He began his culinary journey at 14, working in his uncle’s Mexican restaurant in Calipatria, California. After years in the San Diego restaurant scene, Duarte turned to content creation during the COVID-19 pandemic, following a personal mental health crisis and rehab. “My first was with my daughter,” he once wrote. “That’s when I realized how happy creating content made me”.

💔 A Tragic Loss

Duarte died just three days after celebrating his 9th wedding anniversary with his wife, Jessica. He is survived by Jessica and their 6-year-old daughter, Oakley. A GoFundMe campaign was launched to support his family, raising over $63,000 as of November 12.

Jessica shared a heartbreaking tribute on Instagram:

“To the world you were foodwithbearhands but to us you were a loving husband and father… I will love you forever and I will be strong for our daughter… until we meet again 💔”

His talent agency, Alooma Media Group, remembered him as:

“A true & loyal partner, a trusted collaborator, and above all, a remarkable person… His warmth, kindness, and generosity were felt in every interaction”.

📺 His Work Lives On

Here’s a look at some of Michael’s most memorable content and tributes: Edit in a page

@dailymail
Food influencer Michael Duarte has died following a ‘horrible incident.’ The Californian-based social media star, who posted under the username foodwithbearhands, died on November 8, days after celebrating his wedding anniversary. While the cause of Duarte’s death has yet to be announced, it has been claimed he passed ‘without warning’ during his travel in Texas. Read more at DailyMail. #news #influencer #foodtok #rip
♬ original sound – Daily Mail

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Final Instagram Reel shared by his agency
TikTok tribute from Daily Mail
His last Instagram video before the accident
YouTube tribute: “FoodWithBearHands STAR DEAD”

🧡 A Legacy of Generosity

Michael’s Instagram bio read:

“My purpose is to share to the world food to people who need it the most.”

That purpose now lives on through the community he built, the family he cherished, and the meals that brought people together. His story is a reminder that food is more than sustenance—it’s connection, healing, and love.