Bites Abroad

A Culinary Journey from Study Abroad to Campus

What is Bites Abroad?

Bites Abroad is an immersive storytelling and engagement program that brings global food experiences back to campus. HPU Dining sponsors dining interns studying abroad to serve as our Food Correspondent, exploring local cuisine, documenting their journey, and sharing those stories with the HPU community through digital content and campus events.

This program highlights the connection between food and culture while enriching campus dining with global inspiration.

Meet Kate!

Meet Kate Niccolai, our amazing HPU Dining intern from New Jersey!

She is a Marketing major who is studying abroad in Siena, Italy. While we miss having her on campus, we were thrilled about her launching this new series at HPU as she takes us along her culinary adventures. Each week, Kate will be exploring local recipes, and culinary culture while sharing her experience with us. Kate is also blogging about her journey while sharing weekly adventures with us right here and on our Instagram. You can watch her videos here.

We love seeing Kate explore while abroad and cannot wait for her to share this culinary culture right here at High Point University

Hi everyone! This spring has already been unforgettable as I’ve been working as a marketing intern with Harvest Table Culinary Group, where I’ve helped brainstorm, plan, and host on-campus pop-ups, along with creating social media content.

Now, I’m taking those experiences overseas.

This May, I have the incredible opportunity to study Global Hospitality in Siena, and I’ll be bringing you along with me through Bites Abroad! Siena, located in the heart of Tuscany, is known for its stunning Gothic architecture, the famous Palio di Siena, and for being home to one of the oldest banks and universities in the world.

During my four-week stay, I’ll be exploring not just Siena, but also nearby regions like Florence, Emilia-Romagna, and San Gimignano. From cooking classes and scenic hikes to historic tours and (of course) lots of incredible food, there’s so much ahead.

I’m counting down the days until I land in Italy, and I can’t wait to share the culture, experiences, and flavors with all of you. Get ready for a true taste of Italy!

While abroad, the Food Correspondent will:

  • Explore a wide variety of local dishes, markets, and dining customs

  • Create weekly content that reflects both the culinary experience and the cultural context

  • Capture their journey through short-form videos and journal-style reflections

When the student returns to campus they will collaborate with Elon Dining chefs to co-host a pop-up or featured dining event, recreating some of the most memorable dishes they experienced abroad.