Slow Food Market is Slow Good
by Bonnie Alter, London on 12.24.07
Slow Food is an organisation dedicated to counteracting fast food, fast life and the disappearance of local food traditions. Started in 1989 in Italy, its time has come, now that so many people are concerned about where their food originates and how food choices affect the world. Really it is about fresh, organic, seasonal, local and environmentally grown and produced food. Its Manifesto says: "May suitable doses of guaranteed sensual pleasure and slow, long-lasting enjoyment preserve us from the contagion of the multitude who mistake frenzy for efficiency. Our defense should begin at the table with Slow Food. Let us rediscover the flavours and savours of regional cooking and banish the degrading effects of Fast Food."
Their Christmas market, held on a frosty day, featured a wide and varied selection of producers and products, described as "good and clean and fair". Local wild mushrooms, fried in olive oil, in a chunky roll, with grated parmesan on top provided the energy to check out the many vendors. Hot mint tea from the Arabica Food and Spice company helped as well. No free samples from craft beers Utobeer but the wine from Green and Blue was organic and sophisticated in taste. Ethical edibles was selling an italian panforte that would make a wonderful gift for the hosts of the next party that you attend.
These strings of dried fruit were 10£ (20$) but they would be easy enough to replicate at home, with dried oranges, dried apples, vanilla sticks, leaves and walnuts. They would look so pretty on a tree or draped down stair railings. There was a fresh oyster stand from Mersea Island, where you could down them on the spot. Wine and beer from Mersea Island was also featured--sounds like a good place to visit.
Slow Food also has a foundation, Presidia, that works with local projects in third world countries to try and continue the growth and development of local traditional foods. Their goal is to stablise production techniques and promote local consumption. On sale was Andasibe red rice from Madagascar which makes a delicious rice salad.
Worth noting was this christmas light display, made of empty plastic containers and lit with multi-coloured lights. :: Slow Food London
I hope Slow Food grows in the US. I do. And while I agree with their aims, I think there approach, at least in this country, is too elitist. I would love to check out their stuff in NYC but the workshops/classes are too expensive! They should consider democratization. Does the revolution begin and end with upper-middle class white people?