Rha Blackman, a native son of Columbus, Ohio, is a classically-trained chef, caterer, and educator in the French culinary traditions. After more than twenty years in the diagnostic testing/clinical laboratory industry, he seized upon an opportunity to be informed by a formal education in the culinary arts.  He is an alumnus and 2014 graduate of the Columbus Culinary Institute.  

 

Chef Rha has marked expertise with international cuisine, having served as the Global Cuisine Culinarian for one of Central Ohio’s Fortune 500 corporations. But his true passions are the foods of his upbringing: American Southern and Soul Food cuisines. Indeed, his culinary artistry informs—and is informed by—these traditions and food cultures, as well as by classical culinary methods.

 

Realizing that we eat with our eyes first, simple pristine presentations are his hallmarks. Chef Rha is adamant that clean minimal tablescapes are preferable to elaborate displays, allowing the sumptuous allure of beautifully prepared foods to be the deserving focal points of both buffets and individual plates.

 

Chef Rha believes that hospitality is not only an industry, but a centuries-old spiritual principle. His "Lapis Winged Pineapple" motif signals his focus on ever elevating his extravagent welcome through the culinary arts.

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Fun Factoid: Pineapples have long been associated with warmth and friendliness, signaling "WELCOME" to guests and visitors.