For most first-year students, the first semester here at Penn State is about adjusting to classes, meeting new people, and figuring out where to eat. For Quinton King, it was also about pressing record. A hospitality major from Wallingford, Pennsylvania, King chose Penn State for one clear reason: opportunity.

“They have a killer hospitality program,” King says. “And I’ve been wanting to do hospitality all my life.”

Food has always been central to who he is as a person. He’s been cooking since he was five years old and has dreamed of attending culinary school, with hopes of one day opening a restaurant of his own.

King’s first review wasn’t planned at all; it was actually spontaneous and posted right on the spot. Coming back from class one day, still dressed up from a professional presentation, he walked into Pollock Dining Hall and thought, why not just do it? He set up the camera and recorded a five-minute review, which received over 15,000 views on his very first post.

“I didn’t expect anyone else to really get into it,” he admits. “I thought it would just be my friends from home.”

Instead, that first review became his most viewed video. Now he’s recognized around campus by people he’s never met before.

“It’s crazy,” he says. “People I didn’t know previously love to hear what I have to say about stuff.”

King’s review style is primarily straightforward. No detailed scale or breakdown, just his overall thoughts in the moment. He prefers reviewing dining hall food and on-campus spots because he feels freer to be honest. On the other hand, downtown restaurants can be a hassle to travel around, especially during the winter. That doesn’t mean he doesn’t branch out. He loves to take suggestions from comments and friends, and occasionally connects with other Penn State food reviewers.

“Everyone comes at it from a different angle,” he says. “Every food review is different because everyone has their own thoughts and perspective.”

We decided to ask Quinton if there were any hot food takes he strongly believed in. He answered that, if there’s one thing he’s willing to advocate for, it’s that American cheese is disrespected way more than it should be. He recently made cheesesteaks for a friend’s birthday and found himself defending the cheese.

“People act like it’s plastic,” he says. “But it melts extremely well. Put it on a burger, a cheesesteak, it works.”

And that defense is one he also applies when talking about American cuisine.

“I think American cuisine is the best in the world,” he says. “America is such a diverse country, there’s such a unique aspect of having all types of food.”

From chopped cheese and Philly cheesesteaks to New England lobster and crab, King believes people overlook American food because of its global influences. He believes that diversity is exactly what makes it special. Still, when it comes to his personal favorite meal, he has one clear answer: cajun food, specifically jambalaya.

“It’s fairly simple to make, and packed with flavors and textures that work so well together.”

Beyond reviewing meals, King keeps up with professional track and field, especially throwing events like shot put and discus. A former thrower himself, he hopes to get back into it soon. He watches everything sports, from major championships to just about any game. But for now, food is his creative outlet.

He doesn’t know if he’ll ever turn reviewing into something bigger. Regardless, he enjoys having a platform to share his opinions and having a community willing to listen. And if there’s one piece of advice he has for anyone thinking about starting something new,

“You just got to go and do it,” he says. “If you think it sucks, who cares? You improve on the next video.”

Each review, he says, gets a little better. He listens to criticism and grows after every post.

Just like any good recipe, it takes time! But for King, the foundation of passion, honesty, and his love for food is already there.