Shirley Chung is a Chinese-American chef know for appearances on Top Chef: New Orleans, Top Chef: Charleston and season 3 of the Food Network's Tournament of Champions.
Shirley Chung | |
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| Born | Beijing, China |
| Culinary career | |
Current restaurant(s)
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Television show(s)
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Chung was born in Beijing, China and immigrated to the United States with her family when she was 17 years old.[1] She was introduced to international cuisine as a child by her grandmother Liang Si Yi, who worked as a director for the Red Cross.[2] Chung worked for several years in Silicon Valley, after graduating with a degree in business administration.[3] She eventually left the tech industry to attend culinary school.[4]
Trained in classic French and Italian cuisine, Chung has since worked and opened restaurants for chefs including José Andrés, Thomas Keller and Guy Savoy.[5][2] In 2014 she opened Twenty Eight with Stacie Tran, acting as partner chef at the Irvine, California restaurant.[5]
Chung's opened her first restaurant, Ms. Chi Cafe, in Culver City in 2018.[6] She spoke openly about her experiences with anti-Asian racism following the onset of the COVID-19 in order to draw attention to impact of hate motivated behaviour on the businesses owned by Asian Pacific Americans.[1]
In addition to working in restaurants, Chung has appeared on numerous cooking related television shows. She first appeared as a contestant on Top Chef Season 11, where she finished in third place.[7] She returned to the show during Season 14, competing against winner Brooke Williamson in the finals.[8] The pair previously competed against each other as part of Top Chef Duels, where Chung bested Williamson.[9] In 2022 she jointed the cast of the Food Network's Tournament of Champions hosted by Guy Fieri.[2]