Molise Italian Studies

Please join us Friday, April 24 for the Global Respectful Disruption Summit, a space to disagree and to agree — a place where diverse perspectives are welcomed, hard truths are spoken, and common ground is built.

As an Advocate Sponsor, Molise Italian Studies will also be hosting a virtual lounge break from 11:40-12 ET:

We all show up a little differently depending on the space we’re in. Sometimes we feel open and natural. Other times, we adjust without even thinking about it. This virtual lounge is a casual space to explore those shifts—what changes, what stays consistent, and what helps us feel more like ourselves. No pressure to share—just a space to notice patterns, connect, and reflect.

Day 6: Following the Food 🍝🌿🍇🌊

Today, the students followed the food through the hills and all the way to the sea.

The morning began at one of our favorite places in the world, Home Restaurant Nonna Maria (). Scott and I never miss a chance to bring students here because the cooking is extraordinary and the experience is deeply personal.

Aprons on again.

Students worked alongside these incredibly talented chefs to make fresh pasta from scratch, using ingredients grown and produced on nearby family farms. Flour, eggs, olive oil, herbs from the garden. Everything connected directly to the land around them.

Moments like this make the system visible.
Where food comes from.
Who grows it.
How tradition travels through generations.

After the pasta lesson, the group shifted lenses and explored the Kalenarte MAACK open-air art museum in Casacalenda. Walking through installations placed throughout the village, students encountered contemporary works designed to reimagine everyday spaces and invite new ways of seeing the landscape around them. It was a powerful pause in the day, reminding us that food systems, art, architecture, and community life are all part of the same living cultural ecosystem.

From there the group continued across the countryside, rolling through farmland and hill towns before arriving near the Adriatic coast.

At a local winery, , students learned about the cultivation and revival of Tintilia, Molise’s indigenous grape, and how small family vineyards are preserving regional wine traditions while navigating modern markets.

The day ended with the landscape opening toward the Adriatic Sea.

From farm to pasta table to vineyard to coast, today was a full journey through the food systems of this region.

A packed day. A beautiful day. The kind students will remember.

Molise absolutely esiste.