Years ago, the future Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives star was running a small restaurant in Long Beach, California, and sadly had to let one of his servers go. It happens. He didn't expect his former employee to come back to the restaurant as a customer so soon after being fired, and was trying to explain she should stay away for at least a few weeks. But he kept getting distracted by the former server's friend, a beautiful blonde giving, as Guy describes it, "a mean mug." The blonde leapt to her friend's defense, and Guy, hoping he could get to know this lovely blonde woman better, let them stay.
How Guy Fieri Met His Wife
The woman turned out to be Lori, visiting her friend during a cross-country move from Rhode Island to San Diego. Intrigued by Guy's charisma, Lori agreed to linger in Long Beach long enough to go on a date with the aspiring chef. Their first date? Obviously, Guy cooked for her! He can't remember exactly what, but it was enough to impress Lori. She agreed to a second date, one thing led to another, and they married in 1995.
A Change In Name Only
Interestingly enough, they both changed their last name when they got married! Guy's paternal grandfather, Giuseppe Fieri, Anglicized his surname to Ferry when he emigrated to the United States. To honor him, both Guy and Lori changed their own name to the original Fieri.
The two have been happy married ever since! The couple has two sons, Hunter and Ryder, to whom Guy pays tribute to with his Hunt & Ryde brand of wines.
Lori's always been supportive of her husband's food and business endeavors. She encouraged him to try out for the second season of The Next Food Network Star in 2006, which he won! Thanks to his victory, Guy received a six-episode commitment to film his own show, dubbed Guy's Big Bite. The food and cooking show proved a smashing success, lasting for 19 seasons. Meanwhile, Guy launched other successful food shows, including Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives, Ultimate Recipe Showdown, and The Best Thing I Ever Ate.
Together They Oversee A Food Empire
As to that last show. Regardless of what the show might have portrayed, one of Guy's favorite dishes is something Lori makes. He doesn't give the full recipe, but it involves top sirloin steak grilled with fresh onions, mushrooms, and garlic, then served with egg noodles and gravy. Aspiring Food Network stars, take note if you're ever cooking for Guy!
Currently, Lori and Guy live with their two sons in Santa Rosa, where together they oversee a food empire of 63 restaurants, including 19 Carnival cruise ship restaurants and a flagship restaurant in Las Vegas, along with Guy's extensive TV catalog. Guy credits the couple's long-term success with a willingness to work out their issues with "compromise and understanding." And it certainly doesn't hurt that they're both foodies and fans of each other's cooking!