The latest episode of ‘Selena + Restaurant’ featured a Chinese-American chef, Shirley Chung.
Pop star, actress, and Rare Beauty founder Gomez, after four years and 80 dishes later, stepped into Los Angeles’ hottest restaurant.
In the show, they work on a fusion version of Selena’s Nana’s dumplings from the Dumpling Queen (a moniker for Shirley).
Although Shirley is a known face to cooking show fans, Gomez’s followers might not be familiar with the Top Chef alum.
Key Takeaways
- Chef Shirley Chung worked in the tech industry before pursuing her passion for food.
- She co-owns the restaurant Ms. Chi Cafe with her husband, Jimmy Lee.
Everything You Need To Know About The Dumpling Queen, Shirley
Chef Shirley Chung was born on December 22, 1976, to her parents in Beijing, China.
Chung was introduced to international cuisine at an early age by her grandmother, Liang Si Yi.
Later, at the age of 17, the chef immigrated to America for college and earned her undergraduate degree in Business Administration from Cal State Hayward.
However, Chung decided to pursue her passion for food and enrolled in culinary school after working for almost four years in Silicon Valley.
The 48-year-old chef trained and worked in different restaurants for Thomas Keller, Guy Savoy, Mario Batali, and Jose Andres.
Shirley previously owned Twenty Eight in Irvine, California, from 2014 to 2018. However, at present, she only looks after her L.A. restaurant, Ms. Chi Cafe, which opened in 2018.
Shirley Has A Sister Karen Chung
The professional chef’s younger sister, Karen Chung, is an emergency medicine resident.
She completed her MD from the University Of California Davis Medical Center in 2022.
Besides, Karen is all set to marry her love, Galen Lai King, on August 7, 2024.
Shirley Chung Married In 2006
Ms. Chi Cafe’s owner has been married to Jimmy Lee for 18 years.
They met during the time when they both were working in the Silicon Valley. While Shirley quit her tech job to pursue her dream, her husband worked for many years before joining forces with her.
Jimmy, who co-owns the Ms. Chi Cafe, oversees the front of the house and leads everything behind the scenes.
In Case You Didn’t Know
- Shirley and her husband, Jimmy, are proud parents to their pet dog, Baxter.
