Kathy Fang was born to be in the food business. As a child, she spent all her waking hours in her parents’ restaurant because they couldn’t afford daycare. The restaurant was essentially her home. And now, Kathy is reliving her childhood once again, only this time, she’ll be working alongside her dad on the new Food Network series, Chef Dynasty: House of Fang.
So, who is her father? And who is her mother? Find out all about her parents as this article continues.
Who are chef Kathy Fang’s parents?
Kathy Fang was born to Lily and Peter Fang, her inspiration and teachers who instilled in her a passion for cooking.
Recalling her childhood days, the star said, “When my parents opened the restaurant, I was about seven years old and they couldn’t afford childcare, so I spent all my waking hours in the restaurant.” So, forced to spend all day and even some nights in the restaurant, she developed a passion for cooking.
In fact, it was also where she first learned her trade. Kathy would often kill time in the restaurant by running drinks, bussing tables, or interacting with customers. And when she was old enough, she would help cook in the back with her dad.
“I naturally love food, being around it for its taste and smell, even before going to a restaurant, I always loved eating,” she shared.
Now grown up, she has become business partners with her father. The father-daughter duo opened Fang Restaurant in 2009. However, this is not the location where Chef Dynasty: House of Fang was filmed.
Back to the star, the show features House of Nanking in San Francisco, which Kathy’s partners opened more than three decades ago. Since then, the Chinese dining destination has become a popular spot for tourists and locals alike.
Meet Lily Fang, Kathy Fang’s Mother
Lily Fang is Kathy’s loving mother, an example of love and sacrifice to her.
According to the star, she once found a photo of her mother before she had her. And it was at that moment that she realized “the sacrifices a mother has to make for her children”. “I wouldn’t be here without her. I hope I can be as good a mother to my children as she was to me,” she added.
Likewise, on Mother’s Day 2022, she paid tribute to her mother in an IG caption, “Happy Mother’s Day from our family to yours! Make sure you honor your moms today because we wouldn’t be here without them.”
Lily Fang was born in June 1948. That means she is 74 years old in 2022.
Also, this means that Lily gave birth to Kathy when she was 33 years old.
Lily Fang is co-owner of the family restaurant House of Nanking. She and her husband Peter opened the restaurant in 1988, eight years after they moved from Shanghai to San Francisco.
Before that, Lily did many service jobs to make a living.
Lily Fang is from Shanghai, China.
Meet Peter Fang, Kathy Fang’s Father
Kathy Fang learned her cooking skills from her father, Peter Fang.
When she was little, whenever Kathy would eat something without asking her dad, he would notice. And she would say, “They have the best wontons because of X, Y, and Z, and I would try to break down a dish.” Then she would try to break down a dish and tell him why she thought this place had a better version than that place or how she would do it differently.
This father/son duo is currently dominating the San Francisco culinary world.
Aside from Peter’s unparalleled cooking skills, Kathy also shared that there are “a million reasons why [he is] the best father a daughter could wish for.”
On Father’s Day 2021, she wrote on her IG, “Happy Father’s Day to my forever hero – words can’t express how much you mean to me. To all the dads out there, you deserve to be appreciated every day.”
Peter Fang was born in February 1949. That means he is 73 years old in 2022.
He is a few years younger than his wife.
Peter Fang is one half of House of Nanking and also co-owner of Fang Restaurant.
But it would be more appropriate to say that Peter is three-quarters of the House of Nanking because he learned the place and brought his own creative twist to the traditional Chinese cuisine, which was refreshingly new. Over time, his cooking evolved even more as he began to experiment with traditional dishes and combine them with the local ingredients he loved.
Today, thanks to his cooking methods and his daughter, he is also the star of Chef Dynasty: House of Fang.
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Where is Peter Fang from?
Peter Fang is from Nanjing, China.
Related FAQs
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Are chef Kathy Fang’s parents still married?
Yes, Kathy’s parents are still married.
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Is Chef Kathy Fang an Instagram Parent?
We couldn’t find Kathy’s parents’ own social media pages. But they can be found on the restaurant’s official website on FB @HouseofNanking and IG @houseofnankingsf.
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Where do chef Kathy Fang’s parents live?
In 2022, Kathy’s parents live in San Francisco, California.
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How many children do chef Kathy Fang’s parents have?
Kathy’s parents had only one child and that was Kathy.
However, their family of three has now grown to six. The additions include Caleb Sima (Kathy’s husband) and their two children.