‘Proud’ Dad Guy Fieri Shares 19th Birthday Tribute for Son Ryder: ‘I Have Seen You Grow So Much’

Guy Fieri can’t help but express his pride for his son Ryder as he celebrates his 19th birthday!

On Tuesday, Dec. 31, the celebrity chef, 56, celebrated his youngest son’s birthday with a heartfelt Instagram post featuring various photos of Ryder throughout the past year. Guy shares Ryder and his other son, Hunter, 28, with his wife of nearly 30 years, Lori Fieri. The couple also raised their nephew Jules since the death of Guy's sister Morgan in 2011.

“It’s been an amazing year! I have seen you grow so much in this last year,” Guy wrote. “Your awareness of the world and your surroundings is next level.”

He continued: “Proud of you son on so many levels. Especially how much you love our family. HAPPY BIRTHDAY.”

Related: Guy Fieri Celebrates Son Ryder's 19th Birthday with an 'Early Present'

Guy also included one image of the father and son in matching San Diego State University shirts at the college football stadium. Ryder is currently a freshman at SDSU and in the hospitality program.

He also added a photo of himself and Ryder at a Las Vegas Raiders football game, as well as a photo of the Fieri family and Guy’s parents, Penelope and Jim. Guy's father died in January at the age of 81.

Other images of Ryder with his family include him and his older brother posing in their chef hats and coats in a kitchen together and at a Golden State Warriors basketball game, as well as a video of them wakeboarding beside each other.

Ahead of Ryder's birthday, Fieri and Hunter took him out to watch the Golden State Warriors beat the Phoenix Suns 109 - 105 on Saturday, Dec. 28.

Along with sweet photos of Ryder with his family, Guy also added images of his son with NBA legend Stephen Curry and one adorable photo of Ryder with his girlfriend, Sophie.

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Earlier this year, in late November, Guy told PEOPLE that Ryder “is doing great” at SDSU and “works with the basketball team.” But he added that his son misses one thing about home: the food.

"He sets a menu," Guy told PEOPLE. "He'll write down his list of what he'd like to have: 'So do you think on Friday night we could have this?'"

Related: Guy Fieri Reveals the Advice He's Giving Son Hunter Ahead of His Wedding at the Family Ranch (Exclusive)

"He has a good meal program there at San Diego State, but he says it just doesn't taste the same as it does at home. And I'm like, man, that brings tears to my eyes," the Food Network star said. "I think if you're staying in a dorm, it never compares to home."

"I can't wait until he has an apartment — they make them for the first year you have to live in the dorm. But when he has an apartment, I'm going to be like the old Italian nonna that's going to be packaging him up the cooler to take back. 'Here's four blocks of chili. Here's your marinara, here's your chicken marsala,'" the proud father added.

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