Guy Fieri’s Son ‘Sets a Menu’ When He’s Home from College Because the Food ‘Doesn’t Taste the Same’ in the Dorms

Guy tells PEOPLE that Ryder is "having the best time" at San Diego State University — he just misses his dad's cooking

Guy Fieri's youngest son Ryder is thriving at college, his dad says.

The Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives host gave an update on his family to PEOPLE while celebrating his new Flavortown Laser Titanium Cookware. Ryder, 18, is wrapping up his first semester at San Diego State University. He is part of the hospitality program but has already found his groove in extracurriculars, too.

"He is doing great. He works with the basketball team," says Guy. "He's so passionate about the game that he had a choice if he was going to go fraternities or if he was going to go work for the basketball team. And he got an invite to go interview for the basketball team and he did."

Ryder was a starting guard his senior year at high school — and now he helps support the athletes on the division 1 college team.

"If a player wants to go shoot around in the gym, Ryder will go down and work with him on passing or screening or whatever," says his proud dad. "He is having the best time. I mean, he loves it. He loves being part of the team and the team's doing great."

Guy adds that Ryder is also getting good grades. There's just one thing he misses about home: the food. Being the son of a chef means Ryder looks forward to the cuisine on his visits back.

Related: Guy Fieri Moves Son Ryder Into His College Dorm and Admits It’s ‘Gonna Be Hard’ Not Seeing Him Everyday

"He sets a menu," Guy says with a laugh. "He'll write down his list of what he'd like to have: 'So do you think on Friday night we could have this?'"

"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," says the Food Network star. "I think if you're staying in a dorm, it never compares to home."

Guy's chicken piccata (lemon-caper sauce) is one dish Ryder really looks forward to.

"I can't wait until he has an apartment — they make them for the first year you have to live in the dorm. 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,'" laughs Guy.

Related: Guy Fieri Recalls Son Ryder, 18, Learning That He Owns Multiple Homes: 'He Kind of Perks Up'

Guy and his wife Lori also share son Hunter, 28, who is equally passionate about food. No matter what they're cooking, the Fieris reach for Guy's titanium cookware line — which launched in January 2024, and is now available on Amazon and Macy's in addition to the website. The pots and pans are non stick without any chemical coatings. They're also dishwasher safe. If the 12-piece set is out of budget, Guy recommends starting with a sauté pan.

"For the everyday, straight up the middle cook, trying to do a variety of menu items, that wants to be able to cook hot and fast, low and slow, put a sear on something, put a lid on it, put it in the oven and cook it every which way to Sunday, this is your pan," he says.