Guy Fieri

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Guy Fieri
Born	January 22, 1968 (1968-01-22) (age 40) Humboldt County, California
Education	Bachelor of Science in Hospitality Management from UNLV
Current Restaurant(s) Johnny Garlic's California Pasta Grill Tex Wasabi's
Television show(s) Guy's Big Bite Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives Ultimate Recipe Showdown

Guy Fieri (born January 22, 1968) is a chef, TV personality, and brother of Smash Mouth frontman Steven Harwell. He was the winner of the second season of The Next Food Network Star.^[1] Fieri was awarded a six-episode commitment for his own cooking show on Food Network, called Guy's Big Bite, which premiered on June 25, 2006 and was renewed for a second season that began airing in early 2007. His second series, Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives, premiered in April, 2007 (a one-hour pilot for the series aired as a special in November 2006) and sees Fieri traveling the country visiting local eateries. His third series, Ultimate Recipe Showdown, co-hosted with Marc Summers, began airing on February 17, 2008. He appeared with Robert Irvine in Dinner: Impossible in 2007.

Guy began his career in food service at the age of 10, selling soft pretzels from a three-wheeled bicycle cart he built with his father. The “Awesome Pretzel,” as it was known, was seen at almost every Humboldt County community event. While washing dishes and selling pretzels, Guy was able to earn enough money in six years to sponsor himself to study abroad in France where Guy gained his true appreciation for food and culture. After returning to the United States, Guy decided at the age of 17 to forgo high school and begin junior college. While attending college he would hold various positions from Flambé Captain to Matre’d. Fieri attended University of Nevada Las Vegas in 1987 (where he was a member of Alpha Tau Omega fraternity) and worked as a plant supervisor in a meat distribution supplier. Upon graduating in 1990 with a Bachelors degree in Hospitality Management, he was recruited by Stouffer restaurants to manage in their flagship restaurant in Long Beach, California. After three years with Stouffer's, Guy was recruited by a seven-restaurant unit, Louise’s Trattoria, as a General Manager. There he was promoted to District Manager of six restaurants and was in charge of recruiting and training for the growing chain.

In 1996, Guy and fellow District Manager Steven Gruber left Louise’s to embark their own concept, Johnny Garlic’s. Steve and Fieri opened their first Johnny Garlic’s in the fall of 1996. Two more locations were opened within the next three years, and then opened a catering division in 2001. Most recent ventures, Tex Wasabi’s, a sushi and southern style BBQ concept opened in the fall of 2003, and Russell Ramsay’s Chop House, opened in the spring of 2004. The two opened their largest location, a Tex Wasabi’s in Sacramento, in the fall of 2006. During this time, Guy has been a three-term President of the Restaurant Association of the Redwood Empire, and currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Educational Foundation of the California Restaurant Association. Guy is a national culinary competition judge and compete on a professional BBQ team. He and his wife Lori have two sons, Hunter and Ryder, and live in Santa Rosa, California.

Fieri is also the co-owner of Johnny Garlic's California Pasta Grill in Windsor and Santa Rosa, California, as well as Tex Wasabi's in Sacramento and Santa Rosa.^[2] He holds a Bachelor of Science in Hospitality Management^[3] from UNLV, which he earned in 1990. He is close friends with his fellow second season competitor Nathan Lyon.

Fieri recently began promoting the "Ultimate Recipe Showdown" line of entrees at nationwide restaurant chain T.G.I. Fridays.

He is known for his occasional signature look, consisting of a sweat arm band, shorts, suit jacket, and jewelry (pinky ring, watch, earrings, necklace and bracelet) along with his blond hair but black goatee, contrasting sunglass tan lines, and flip-flops that he wears even in kitchens.