Former Top Chef contestant Shirley Chung is pausing operations at her California restaurant, Ms. Chi Cafe, while she undergoes treatment for Stage 4 tongue cancer.
The Beijing-born celebrity chef, 47, revealed her diagnosis on Instagram, sharing a video of her shaving her head in preparation for chemotherapy. In the clip, she jokes about what kind of egg she most closely resembles, later quipping about her buzz-cut: “It’s kind of sexy.”
Since December, Chung wrote in the post’s caption, she has had a “series of dental issues” that she initially attributed to being a “heavy teeth grinder”. Then in May, she developed ulcers in her mouth, leading her oral surgeon to discover a tumour hidden under her tongue.
Chung was diagnosed with Stage 4 tongue cancer, she said, “as cancer cells had also spread into my lymph nodes”.
“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!” the post read. “This is a temporary pause on orders, and we will be back!”
The post did not disclose a reopening date, though Chung said she did not waste any time beginning treatment once she received her diagnosis.
“I was very calm when doctors delivered the news, as a chef, I’ve always thrive [sic] under pressure,” she wrote on Instagram. “I was extremely focused on getting all the tests and scans as fast as possible, so I can start on the treatment plans.”
She concluded: “I have a tough long road to recovery in front of me. Your love and support will carry me through. Cheer me on, Shirley Chung 2.0 will be reborn in 2025!”
