‘Prime Chef’ alum Shirley Chung shaved her head after being identified with stage 4 tongue most cancers.
Jul. 31 2024, Revealed 7:37 p.m. ET
Beloved Prime Chef alum Shirley Chung, who owns the wildly common Ms. Chi Café in Southern California’s Culver Metropolis, is closing her restaurant after being identified with Stage 4 tongue most cancers.
RadarOnline.com can solely share workers and clients alike are calling Chung’s announcement about her well being “bittersweet” and “unhappy”.
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Ms. Chi Café waitress, Michelle, stated regardless of the restaurant closing everyone seems to be simply centered on Chung’s restoration.
Chung defined she discovered concerning the prognosis after severely biting her tongue and fracturing her tooth, which she then needed to have extracted.
In a separate Instagram replace, Chung, and her husband, Jimmy Lee, who’s Ms Chi’s supervisor, shared the unhappy information: “In mild of Chef Shirley’s prognosis, we’ve made the tough resolution to shut Ms Chi Café so she will be able to give attention to restoration.”
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The submit was accompanied by a video and images of Chung, together with Lee and different workers members shaving her head.
A number of days earlier than closing, the restaurant was packed at lunchtime, each indoors and on the patio. A Ms Chi waitress by the title of Michelle, solely advised RadarOnline.com about Chung’s alternative to chop her hair.
The waitress revealed: “She was so blissful, joking about it and all the pieces, however she’s superb.”
Whereas talking about her boss’ prognosis, she added: “We’re all unhappy. It’s very bittersweet. We’re simply hoping for the very best for her and specializing in her restoration.”
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Shou Zhang (left) and her pal drove all the way in which from East to West Los Angeles to strive chef Shirley Chung’s well-known meals.
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“She’s only a sweetheart. She’s simply so optimistic, so holy. Like, you possibly can’t even inform that she’s going by way of [cancer].”
The waitress additionally praised Lee, saying: “I’ve labored right here for 5 years which simply exhibits you the way nice she is, Jimmy is, and what it’s like working right here.”
Lee, who was run off his toes serving tables, merely smiled and advised us: “I believe her submit says all of it.”
Within the somber social media message, Chung, 47, shared she initially thought her issues got here from being a “heavy enamel grinder.”
Nonetheless, on the finish of Could, Chung stated her mouth “erupted” with ulcers.
“My oral surgeon found a hidden tumor beneath my tongue. A number of days later, I used to be identified, stage 4 tongue most cancers, as most cancers cells additionally unfold into my lymph nodes.”
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Shirley Chung is famend for her Chinese language American meals – and specifically her unbelievable dumplings.
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The Chinese language American chef stated she was “very calm” when the docs delivered the information: “As a chef, I’ve at all times thrived beneath stress. I used to be extraordinarily centered on getting all of the checks and scans as quick as potential, so I can begin on the therapy plans.”
She revealed surgeons stated one possibility was to fully take away her tongue, and that may give her the very best survival fee: “I broke down, crying … making an attempt to place ideas collectively…”
Nonetheless, the surgeon then advised her: “There may be an alternative choice, which was a unicorn case, on the College of Chicago, they cured a affected person (a chef!) with radiation and chemo.”
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Shirley Chung’s Ms Chi Café was packed to the gills days earlier than closing.
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After telling Chung she must go to Chicago for therapy, she acknowledged: “Larger survival fee, or hold my tongue? I selected to maintain my tongue. I’m a fighter, I’m a chef, I will be that unicorn too.”
On the time of her submit, Chung stated she had accomplished six weeks of chemotherapy (with many extra weeks to go) and that she was “going to the hospital 4 occasions per week for injections.”
She added: “My tumor is shrinking, my speech is a lot better and I can eat most conventional meals now.”
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Within the announcement confirming the closure of their restaurant, the couple acknowledged: “We’re extremely grateful to every one in all you – our workers, supporters and followers.”
“We’ve got actually loved spreading the dumpling love over the past a number of years and calling Culver Metropolis our house! Please come by, say hello, and luxuriate in our menu earlier than we shut.”
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Individuals did simply that. Amongst them was Chinese language American Shou Zhang who drove from East Los Angeles to West Los Angeles for her first – and final – meal on the restaurant.
A “enormous” fan of Chung from her Prime Chef days, Zhang advised RadarOnline.com: “I’m additionally Chinese language. I used to be born in China. So, it was actually nice to see mainland Chinese language meals represented on such a giant platform.”
Zhang follows Chung on Instagram and stated it was “stunning” when she discovered about her prognosis, “as a result of I understand how a lot she loves cooking and meals and this place.”
Zhang’s verdict on the meals? “As a Chinese language particular person, you possibly can inform simply how a lot care is taken to make the meat and you may inform immediately that the pickled greens are selfmade.”
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She additionally famous the factor she “actually loves” about Chung is “nothing can get her down.”
Waitress Michelle echoed that sentiment. Though she doesn’t have a brand new job lined up but, she remained optimistic, saying: “I believe we’re extra apprehensive about [Chung’s] restoration.
“I hope that she will get higher, and we’ll see what comes from there. Who is aware of? Perhaps she’ll do a comeback.”
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