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5 Minutes with Tia Molinaro
Postcards from Lenola
Sydney-based cake artist Tia Molinaro of World of Crema invites us on a sun-drenched journey through her hometown of Lenola, Italy, sharing her local secrets in our latest edition of 5 Minutes with FELLA.
Imagery via Tia Molinaro @worldofcrema
Where in the world is your favourite spot to swim?
Gaeta’s 300 Passi beach. It’s about a 20-minute drive from my hometown, Lenola, Italy. The beach is flawless with light blue water in a lovely cove that hardly ever gets windy. There’s a little kiosk where you can eat fresh mortadella, mozzarella, and verdura panini with a cold beer or campari spritz.
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What are some of your favourite places to eat in Italy? Secrets welcome!
❋ Rome - Ciampini for gelato
❋ Rome - Roscioli
❋ Rome - Piatto Romano
❋ Pupo in Terracina — the best gelato I’ve ever had.
❋ Milano - Bice Ristorante
❋ My husbands Nonna Maria’s house for the best fritelle
A city or destination you feel creatively connected to?
Ortigia, Siracusa, Italy. When I visited in 2022, I was deeply moved by the community of artists and artisans. It felt like the kind of place I could see myself living, creating, and building connections. Sicily has always been in my bones — visiting in the summers from a young age left a quiet, lasting imprint on me.
Are there any go-to summer dishes you always crave?
Right now, I’m in my hometown of Lenola in Lazio, Latina. The region is famous for all things buffalo milk. In summer, I eat fresh mozzarella di bufala like apples. Other cravings: Schiacciata or pizza rossa, sun-warmed summer tomatoes, local cimi di rape (a type of Italian kale), spaghetti alle vongole, bistecca with a squeeze of lemon, and pizza di bieta — a regional speciality that’s a fried chard pie soaked in garlic vinegar. Snails in tomato sugo, too. And always, two gelati a day from Pupo in Terracina.
What is the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?
Conta più l’anima che la faccia. The soul matters more than the face, is a daily reminder to invest in my character & my relationship with the people that matter to me, rather than obsess over my looks.
