Guy Fieri may be the mayor of Flavortown, but he recently showed heâs also got a serious heart. On April 4, 2025 the TV chef got real on Instagram, posting a birthday tribute to his late friend and fellow chef, Carl “The Cuban” Ruiz. It wouldâve been Ruizâs 50th, and yep, the post had fans in their feelings.
It seems like even in the chaos of reality TV kitchens and burger dives, some friendships run deeper than the sauce.
A Bromance Built on Burgers and Bull Rides
Fieri didnât just slap up a caption and call it a day. He dropped a carousel of photos that had everything from goofy grins to a very on-brand metal bull ride moment. The one that hit hardest? A Time magazine-style mockup of Ruiz on the cover; cheeky, legendary, and totally Ruiz.
And the caption? âHappy 50th birthday to my brother/friend/chef Carl âThe Cubanâ Ruiz. Miss you my brutha RIP.â Short, raw, and straight to the point. You could almost hear the âDiners, Drive-Ins and Divesâ theme playing softly in the background.
This isnât the first time Fieriâs shown love to Ruiz since his sudden passing in 2019 from a heart condition. Heâs kept Ruizâs memory alive through throwback stories, interviews, and now, whatâs basically the ultimate birthday shoutout.
The Fans Showed Up
The comments rolled in fast: so much so that the post now has over 40,500 likes. Fans sent prayers, heart emojis, and memories of their favorite Carl moments. One fan called Ruiz âthe realest one on Food Network,â while more people chimed in with comments like, âI was just thinking last night watching TOC how much fun he wouldâve had,â and âFelt like we knew him personally. He is truly missedð.â
A brave fan even spoke with a bit of humor saying, âI still crack up thinking about uuu when Guy would make everything super HOT on grocery games𤣠u were the best.â It seems like the tribute wasnât just about grief⦠it was a celebration. Ruiz wasnât just a friend to Fieri; he became a familiar face to viewers who loved his no-BS attitude and love for good food.
Letâs be real; most celeb posts come and go, but this one hit differently. It was funny, touching, and full of flavor, just like the man it honored. And judging by the comments, fans arenât forgetting Carl Ruiz anytime soon.
Fieri said it best in an older post: âThe world isn’t the same without you.â But for a moment, it felt like Carl was still sitting at the table, cracking jokes, and ordering the messiest thing on the menu.
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