Ohio State is in the process of revising websites and program materials to accurately reflect compliance with the law. While this work occurs, language referencing protected class status or other activities prohibited by Ohio Senate Bill 1 may still appear in some places. However, all programs and activities are being administered in compliance with federal and state law.

Chef Reese Flowers Visits FRIT 3061

October 22, 2025

Chef Reese Flowers Visits FRIT 3061

Chef Flowers photo 1
Chef Flowers photo 2

On October 9th, CSCC Executive Chef Reese Flowers (Degrees Restaurant) visited the students of FRIT 3061: Mediterranean Food Cultures to talk all about pesto. After the students were primed to discuss “true” pesto Genovese (which should only contain seven specific ingredients) through watching scenes from Disney/Pixar’s Luca (2021), the stage was turned over to Reese, who shared his experience competing in and ultimately winning the 2020 Columbus Pesto World Championship qualifier. His passion for not only cooking, teaching, and learning were contagious, but so, too, was his enthusiasm for travelling abroad; the 2020 Columbus win secured Reese’s spot in the Pesto World Championship held in Genoa, Italy, the capital of Liguria and home base for pesto Genovese. His first time leaving the United States vis-à-vis the Pesto World Championship opened Reese’s eyes to even more flavors, textures, and a slower pace of life full of warm and welcoming people, places, and of course food – all of which sits at the core of FRIT 3061.

To learn more about Chef Reese and the Pesto World Championships, please visit this link or this one. In addition to our gratitude for Reese’s engagement with the class, we would like to thank Kelly Matthews (M.A. in Italian Studies from OSU), Program Manager at Greater Columbus Sister Cities International, for helping us make this connection! Did you know that Genoa is Columbus’s oldest Sister City connection, which dates back to 1955? For more information, please visit this link.