Ryder Fieri is keeping his dad on his toes, in the best way possible.
“Ryder has grown so much in the last six months, it is mind-blowing,” Guy Fieri told PEOPLE while announcing his annual Super Bowl party, Guy’s Flavortown Tailgate.
Ryder, 19, is in his first year at San Diego State University, where he is enrolled in the hospitality program and works with the school’s basketball team.
“Maybe it’s that thing of going off to college and starting to realize what home life was and so forth. He’s just been super, way more family oriented and attentive. Not that he always wasn’t but he’s just grown up so much,” adds Guy, who is also dad to older son, Hunter, 28. “I am in awe, I really am.”
There was one moment in particular when the Food Network star realized just how far Ryder has come.
“My mom called me, almost in tears, and said that Ryder had called her the other day just out of the blue,” recalls Guy of Ryder’s grandmother, Penny. “Just to call and see how she was doing and say hi. And I’m like, you can tell your kid a million times, ‘It’s your grandma’s birthday, make sure you call’ or ‘Hey, have you talked to your grandma recently?’ And now he’s doing stuff like that. So he sure is growing up.”
Guy’s mom is a recent widow. His father Jim died nearly one year ago at age 81. Jim and Penny owned multiple stores in Ferndale, Calif., where Guy and his late sister Morgan were raised.
Ryder is showing his growth at college, too. “He works for the basketball team over there at San Diego State, and the commitment that he has working on that team — getting up early and going to all that — he really loves it,” according to Dad. “He’s really tuned in. He’s doing great.”
Ryder celebrated his 19th birthday on New Year’s Eve with a “low-key” trip to Mexico with his girlfriend and a few friends. “That’s what he asked for,” says Guy.
There’s a good chance Ryder will also join his family in New Orleans for the Super Bowl and Guy’s Flavortown Tailgate on Feb. 9. The free event will feature food from restaurants shown on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives, plus performances from Diplo, Flavor Flav and the Cowboy Mouth. Registration is open now.
Read the full article here
