UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Jet Tila, Food television personality and chef, will visit Penn State on Nov. 4-6 to headline several on-campus events.
Tila is an internationally celebrated culinary expert known for competing on "Iron Chef America" and hosting various Food Network shows. He is a three-time Emmy and James Beard nominee, best-selling author and the inaugural Culinary Ambassador of Thai Cuisine appointed by the Royal Thai Consulate, the first-ever chef to represent his country’s culture and cuisine.
Tila’s culinary portfolio include a partnership with Pei Wei Group, which operates more than 100 locations nationwide, and a managing partnership with Dragon Tiger Noodle Co. in Las Vegas. He also partners with Compass Group, Schwan’s CJ food, HSN and NBC Universal/DreamWorks — bringing his food to millions of people each year.
“Penn State has such an incredible energy — you can feel how much pride the students and staff have in their food community,” Tila said. “I love events like this because they’re about connection. Cooking live lets me share stories, technique and culture in real time. It’s inspiring to see young chefs and food lovers who are genuinely curious about flavor, and it reminds me why I started doing this in the first place.”
Tila will deliver a keynote speech on Nov. 4 to School of Hospitality Management students and staff at the Keller Building, followed immediately after by a meet and greet and book signing. The following day, Tila will host a dinner buffet takeover at Findlay Dining Commons featuring several of his dishes, including Pepsi-marinated Korean beef short ribs, drunken noodles with shrimp, and cinnamon and five spice donuts. On Nov. 6, Tila will lead a pair of lunchtime cooking demos at Pollock Dining Commons where he will cook some of his favorite recipes. Limited tickets for the keynote speech and cooking demos are available.
"We couldn't be more excited to welcome Chef Tila to Penn State,” said Jim Meinecke, senior director of Food Services. "He has a dynamic personality and a remarkable life story all coupled with amazing culinary chops. Our staff and our community will learn a lot from him during his time on campus."
During his cooking demos and buffet takeover, Tila will prepare meals that reflect both his Thai and Chinese heritage, such as drunken noodles and Thai chicken, as well as a few surprise dishes.
“My family was the first to bring Thai food to America, and with my Chinese roots, I wanted to highlight dishes that reflect both traditions — popular yet authentic flavors,” Tila said. “These dishes were chosen because they represent where I come from — food that teaches real technique, tells a story, and brings people together around the table.”