Guy Fieri‘s youngest son, Ryder, is back from college and ready to indulge in his dad’s cooking.
During an interview with People published on Tuesday, Fieri spoke about how his teenager is adjusting to college life at San Diego State University.
There’s just one thing he misses, though: His dad’s cooking.
“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,” Fieri told People. “I think if you’re staying in a dorm, it never compares to home.”
The Food Network star says that his son gets to decide what’s for dinner since he’s back for the holidays.
“He sets a menu,” Fieri said, referring to his son. “He’ll write down his list of what he’d like to have: ‘So do you think on Friday night we could have this?’”
Although his youngest son currently lives in a college dorm, Fieri says he “can’t wait” for him to get an apartment.
“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,’” Fieri said.
Fieri also has an older son, Hunter, 28, whom he shares with his wife, Lori.
Campus dining halls aren’t typically seen as places with good food, but some colleges have gained a reputation for serving dishes that are a cut above the rest.
Niche, a company that compiles information on schools, has published a list of the 2025 Best College Food in America based on reviews from students and alums.
UCLA — where yearly meal plans cost between $5,301 and $6,614.28 — tops the list. Ranked in second place is the University of Massachusetts Amherst, followed by Virginia Tech in third place.
In a personal essay for Business Insider, a mother of two college-bound sons suggested that parents visit the dining hall to see if the school is the right fit for their child.
“If prospective students cannot see themselves at one of the tables, want to sit down with a group, or otherwise find someone who could be their friend, that college might not be the best fit,” Cristine Struble wrote.
A representative for Fieri did not immediately respond to a request for comment sent by Business Insider outside regular hours.
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