Robert Irvine is the first to admit he has an “unusual” relationship.
The celebrity chef, 57, spoke with PEOPLE about his 11-year marriage to wife Gail Kim, 46, while promoting Pure Life’s Family Summer Challenge, an initiative which encourages families to get outside and try new activities for prizes.
Irvine, who met the retired pro wrestler on Dinner: Impossible, says his work schedule keeps him on the road most of the time.
“I travel 345 days a year,” he tells PEOPLE in this week’s issue. While a large chunk of that time is spent transforming struggling restaurants on Restaurant: Impossible, 150 days are devoted to helping the military through his nonprofit, the Robert Irvine Foundation.
Irvine and Kim stay connected over FaceTime when they can — but the nature of being in “potentially hazardous situations” aiding service members means they can go long stretches without talking.
“I think it’s really important, the communication,” he says of their busy schedules. “The communication we …