Building Bridges Through Food: Celebrating the Globe Kitchen

For over 15 years, the Globe Kitchen has been a cornerstone of cultural exchange at FSU—a place where food becomes a bridge, and campus community members come together. The Globe Kitchen was a dedicated feature requested by the CGE team during the building’s planning phase prior to its opening in 2009. The addition of a commercial kitchen was designed to support the growth of programs and events centered around international cuisine. The kitchen has provided the foundation for signature gatherings like International Coffee Hour, Global Café, the International Bazaar as well as unique intercultural experiences such as ‘Coffee in the Middle East’ with the Middle East Center and the ‘Arepa Showdown’ with PorColombia and the Venezuelan Student Association. These events would not be possible without the Globe kitchen or the team that runs it and produces a large variety of international cuisine for CGE events.

One of the key figures behind the success of the Globe kitchen is Jesse O’Reilly, who was hired by the CGE in 2010 to help with special events requiring food production. Due to his outstanding talent and culinary background, he was hired full-time in 2013 as the Building Scheduler and Kitchen Manager. “I took this job because it’s a great environment and was a way to use food and a functional space as a way to engage students,” O’Reilly shared. “One of my favorite things is working with student groups—learning about their food and techniques and seeing the pride they have in these events.” For O’Reilly, the Globe Kitchen is more than a workspace—it’s a mission. “The CGE Kitchen is special because it’s a rare space that does not have a profit motive. The motive is socializing people—bringing people together. In this type of space, people matter.”

He continued, “The student staff are near and dear to my heart. Being able to give them opportunities and see how impactful it is—that’s what keeps me going.” Camille Pamplona (Globe kitchen staff, Summer 2022-Spring 2023) said, “I quickly learned how the space and events became a safe space for students and faculty. Jesse empowered me to become more confident in my communication, organization, and leadership skills. Working at the CGE has been a core memory of my FSU career.” Matthew Cortez (Kitchen Supervisor/Senior Kitchen Supervisor, Summer 2023-Spring 2025) noted, “Working in the Globe Kitchen helped prepare me for my future career by providing experience in project planning and budgeting—skills that stood out to my current employer.” And for Jami Holder (Globe Kitchen staff, Summer 2023-Spring 2025), the most challenging days were the most rewarding: “The most taxing days were my favorites because it showed how well the team came together. Those moments showed me the power of a strong support system and gave me a network that extended far beyond the building itself.”

Having Jesse O’Reilly join the CGE team in a full-time position helped elevate and increase the visibility of all of the programs and services the CGE provides to the campus community. Cynthia Green, Director of the CGE, stated “In addition to being a talented chef, Jesse has all of the skills to effectively manage a commercial kitchen and a special talent for working with student groups and helping them develop leadership skills."