Shirley Chung

Shirley Chung was a Chinese-born American chef who became a popular figure amongst TV audiences after appearing as a contestant on "Top Chef New Orleans" (2006-). Born and raised in Beijing, Chung was exposed to all types of international cuisine at a very young age, thanks to her grandmother. Her grandmother was the Director of China's Red Cross, and instilled in her granddaughter the importance of trying new and exotic foods. Chung never forgot her grandmother's wisdom, and from that moment on developed a lifelong passion for food. At the age of 17 Chung immigrated to the United States and soon began working in the tech industry in California's Silicon Valley. The money was great, but in many ways Chung was left unfilled by her job. She longed to pursue her passion for cooking, so one day she decided to act on it by quitting her well-paying tech job to enroll in culinary school. Chung studied Italian and French cuisine and immediately found the work to be gratifying. After graduating with her culinary degree, Chung embarked on a career in the food industry. She worked for some of the most high-profile restaurants in the country, thus working her way up the kitchen ranks. Her big break came when she was recruited by the revered Chef Jose Andres to become the Executive Chef at his new restaurant China Poblano. Chung thrived in the role, and in 2011 the James Beard Foundation nominated China Poblano for a Best New Restaurant Award. With her restaurant career flourishing, Chung decided to audition for the long-running cooking reality series "Top Chef." She eventually became a contestant on the New Orleans edition of the series, where she wowed both the judges and her fellow contestants with her culinary creations. Although she placed third on "Top Chef New Orleans," Chung returned to the series in late 2016 for "Top Chef Charleston." This time she placed second in the competition.