Chef Reginald Jacob Howell, ’16, doesn’t need to convince anyone about where his heart lies. From the moment you hear his infectious laugh on Food Network’s newest show, “Pitmasters,” you’re immediately hooked on the Tacoma native as he endures grueling hours of nonstop cooking for a chance to be crowned ‘Pitmaster champ.’
His advantage isn’t his pit set-up, or even his laid-back, yet focused confidence as he plates a dish with a dash of garam masala. It’s his teammate and best friend, Denzel Johnson.
The two met when Howell was finishing his degree in communication at the University of Washington and was working at the university’s campus-adjacent restaurant, Cultivate. After spending long days at the fryer, Howell would scroll through Instagram to see what Johnson was up to.
Read the full article in the University of Washington Magazine.