Guy Fieri is stepping up to support a friend in need. The 56-year-old celebrity chef announced on Instagram on Monday, Aug. 19, that he is hosting a fundraiser for Top Chef alum Shirley Chung, who has been diagnosed with stage 4 tongue cancer.
Alongside a flier promoting the Sept. 14 “Chefs for Shirley” fundraiser, the Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives host shared why he felt compelled to organize the event through the Guy Fieri Foundation.
“My dear friend and amazing chef @chfshirleychung needs our help,” Fieri wrote in the caption. “She has closed her restaurant and is in the battle for her life.”
He added, “Great chefs and friends will be coming together in wine country to create an evening that no one will ever forget. Check out the link in my bio for tickets! Hope to see you there!!”
The Santa Rosa, California fundraiser, described as a “once-in-a-lifetime culinary experience,” will feature a lineup of renowned chefs, including Top Chef winner Buddha Lo, Antonia Lofaso, Stephanie Izard, Mei Lin, Lee Anne Wong, and more. Fieri’s son, Hunter, is also set to attend.
Fieri hinted at even more surprise guests, saying, “PS: The amount of surprise chefs showing up should be pretty epic! Omg!!”
According to the flier, the event will be held “in an intimate setting in Northern California Wine Country,” offering culinary demonstrations, mixology, premium wines, and silent and live auctions.
“Interact with all the Chefs and a few other surprises during this intimate Culinary Experience,” the fundraiser’s website states. “All this to help raise money for Chef Shirley Chung’s treatments and medical bills in her Battle to KICK CANCER’S A–!”
Guy Fieri
Chung, 47, reacted to the news on her Instagram Stories, expressing her gratitude: “Thank You @guyfieri, my amazing chef community.”
“Grateful,” she added in another post.
Chung, a finalist on season 11 of Top Chef and a competitor again in season 14, first shared her cancer diagnosis on Instagram on July 26, revealing it was discovered after a series of dental issues initially attributed to teeth grinding.
“At the end of May, ulcers erupted in my mouth, and my oral surgeon discovered a hidden tumor under my tongue,” she wrote. “A few days later, I was diagnosed with stage 4 tongue cancer, as cancer cells had also spread into my lymph nodes. I was very calm when doctors delivered the news.
As a chef, I’ve always thrived under pressure. I was extremely focused on getting all the tests and scans as fast as possible, so I could start on the treatment plans.”
Chung also shared that she had just completed six weeks of chemotherapy, with “many more to go,” and included photos and footage of herself shaving off her hair.
To focus on her treatment and recovery, Chung decided to close her restaurant, Ms Chi Cafe. She announced this in a joint Instagram post with the Culver City establishment on July 26.
“In light of Chef Shirley’s diagnosis, we have made the difficult decision to close Ms Chi so she can focus on recovery,” the post read. “Ms Chi’s last day of operation will be Sunday, August 4th.
We are incredibly grateful to each and every one of you—our staff, supporters, and fans. We have truly enjoyed spreading the dumpling love over the last several years and calling Culver City our home!”
Tickets for Fieri’s “Chefs for Shirley” fundraising event are available for purchase, with Platinum tickets priced at $4,500 and Gold tickets at $2,500.
