Slow Food London: Autumn Festival
by Bonnie Alter, London 
on 09.23.08
On the way to the London Design Festival we came across the Festival of Food, put on by Slow Food London. Held in the shadow of David Adjaye's pop-up pavilion, it was a celebration of autumn and the plentiful fruits and vegetables available at this time of the year. There were cooking demonstrations in italian and english, a children's Busy Bee tent where they could create a visual feast, a truffle talk and even a talk on recycling. But best of all were the 40 stalls worth of delicious fresh, sustainable and traditionally prepared foods.
It's all part of the British Food Fortnight; two weeks of events promoting regional foods and drinks. Slow Food is a non-profit gastronomic organisation, started in 1989, to embrace local food traditions before they disappear. It is an antidote to fast food and the fast life; food should taste good and be produced in a way that does not harm the environment or our health. They have chapters all over the world where members can participate in important discussions about the future of our food.
We were delighted to see the Choc Star and chat with the famous brownie maker herself. Although most everyone was eating ice cream, we couldn't resist tasting one of her renowned chocolate goodies. The verdict: they are terrific.
The fresh wild mushroom sandwiches, cooked in oil, with parmesan grated on top and tucked into a fresh crunchy bun were a delight, as always.
There was a hog being roasted, and roast hog sandwiches. There were also sandwiches made of the beef from Beatrice Potter's herd. Cheeses were local, french, and italian and included raw sheep's milk cheese, brie and piedmontese. The honey looked wonderful, including Ivy, Starflower and Norfolk Blossom. So evocative. For dessert: churros from Spain, covered in hot chocolate.
There were long tables where one could sit and have wonderful conversations on a sunny day. The lady beside me was portly to say the least, but determined to eat nothing except a german pretzel. Good luck. :: Slow Food London
More on Slow Food
:: Slow Food Market is Slow Good
:: Slow Food Nation
:: Is Slow Food a Contradiction in Terms
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