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. Each semester, Elon Dining sponsors one student studying abroad to serve as our Food Ambassador, exploring local cuisine, documenting their journey, and sharing those stories with the Elon community through digital content and campus events.
This program highlights the connection between food and culture while enriching campus dining with global inspiration. From café corners in Copenhagen to street food in Rome, Bites Abroad turns everyday meals into meaningful, sharable stories.
While abroad, the Food Ambassador will:
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Explore a wide variety of local dishes, markets, and dining customs
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Create weekly content that reflects both the culinary experience and the cultural context
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Capture their journey through short-form videos and journal-style reflections
In the spring, the Ambassador returns to campus and partners with Elon Dining chefs to co-host a pop-up or featured dining event, recreating some of the most memorable dishes they experienced abroad.
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13 Journal Entries: Weekly reflections detailing food experiences, local insights, and cultural observations
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15 Instagram Reels: Includes 1 intro video, 1 recap, and weekly short-form content highlighting key food moments and discoveries
The selected Food Ambassador receives a stipend to support their food exploration while abroad. This funding helps cover meals, snacks, and food-related activities that fuel content creation and cultural engagement. Ambassadors are required to keep a running expense report with receipts to ensure transparency and appropriate use of funds.
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Integrate global experiences into Elon’s campus dining culture
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Celebrate the intersection of food and identity
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Empower students to lead authentic storytelling
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Inspire globally minded culinary initiatives and connections on campus