The Leatherby Libraries has curated an October display celebrating Italian Food and Culture!

Within Italian culture, food is one of the most significant connectors as it is shared and enjoyed by families and friends at various events and activities. This display was inspired by food’s cultural impact on the Italian community and aims to educate patrons on how ever-changing cultural influences have shaped Italian flavors and cuisine.

This display includes publications such as Il Cibo Come Culture by Massimo Montanari, which discusses how every Italian recipe expresses Italian culture’s rich and complex history. In Delizia!: The Epic History of the Italians and Their Food, John Dickie talks about the history of Italy told through the flavors and unique characters of their cities and regions. These books showcase food’s role as a storyteller of cultural beliefs and practices throughout the different regions of Italy.

Check out this display’s complete bibliography on the Chapman Digital Commons here.

This display was curated by Leatherby Libraries student employees Isabella Piechota ’25, Arianna Tillman ’25, and Kalea Brown ’26.

Upcoming Windows to Italy Event!

Wednesday, 10/18/23 at 7:00 p.m.

Those who are interested in learning more about Italian culture are encouraged to attend the upcoming Windows to Italy event, “The Global Italian Diaspora: Texts and Contexts,” a talk by Dr. Norma Bouchard, on Wednesday, October 18th from 7 – 8:30 p.m. in the Henley Reading Room on the Library’s second floor.

Dr. Bouchard will explore the different ideas of Italian culture that emerge across territorial, cultural, and ethnic boundaries and how they offer the possibility of imagining a more inclusive future where civic, social, and political rights are no longer tied to unattainable models of origin and belonging. Refreshments will be provided.

Windows to Italy Series 2023-2024

Each academic year, the Ferrucci Institute offers a series of talks featuring scholars from both within and outside of Chapman University who are advancing the field by exploring Italy’s more universal educational and intellectual potentials, both in its peninsular and diasporic contexts. The series takes place in the Henley Reading Room of the Leatherby Libraries on two Wednesday evenings in the fall and two evenings in spring. All students, faculty, and staff working on Italy-related projects are encouraged to attend. The event is open to the public.

windows to italy flyer

The Leatherby Libraries’ Diversity, Equity and Inclusion efforts align with the Chapman University Strategic Plan for Diversity & Inclusion, fostering a diverse and inclusive campus climate.