Thursday, September 29, 2011

The Slow Food Challenge

Slow Food, like many great movements in history, began with a tipping point. That was in 1986 when McDonald's opened a fast food restaurant near the Spanish Steps in Rome. Carlo Petrini, then writing culinary articles for two Communist publications, was outraged, calling for preservation of traditional and regional cuisine. Three years later the founding Manifesto of the International Slow Food Movement was signed in Paris by delegates from 15 countries, “Not so much as a protest against the restaurant chain as a protest against big international business interests,” to quote Wikipedia.

Now Mr. Petrini heads the University of Gastronomic Sciences whose mission is to bridge the gap between agriculture and gastronomy. The Slow Food Movement has chapters in 132 countries. The structure is decentralized. Each chapter has a leader who is responsible for creating and promoting local events.

Last year we participated in a tuna canning organized by Jeremy Brown, who was recently appointed Fisheries Ambassador to the International Sustainability unit of the Prince Charles Trust. This was an event of the Fourth Corner Slow Food Chapter.

In August the Fourth Corner leader, Diana Campbell issued a $5 challenge for Saturday, September 17. Could we arrange a dinner that would cost no more per person than we would pay at a Jack in the Box (where we have never been but whose commercials we like best)? We asked two couples with whom we dine regularly to join us.

Naomi and Roger brought a large salad with blue cheese from the Co-op and greens from their garden.

Last year we participated in a tuna canning organized by Jeremy Brown, who was recently appointed Fisheries Ambassador to the International Sustainability unit of the Prince Charles Trust. This was an event of the Fourth Corner Slow Food Chapter.

In August the Fourth Corner leader, Diana Campbell issued a $5 challenge for last Saturday, September 17. Could we arrange a dinner that would cost no more per person than we would pay at a Jack in the Box, where we have never been but whose commercials we like best? We asked two couples with whom we eat regularly to join us.

Naomi and Roger brought a large salad with blue cheese from the Co-op and greens from their garden. For dessert, also from their garden, they brought strawberries and blueberries with some wild blackberries.

Irene made a casserole of zucchini, onions, mushrooms and Feta cheese. Jack, her husband, brought a large – and inexpensive bottle – of white Italian wine. We wrapped small portions of Jeremy's tuna in lettuce leaves for hors d'oeuvre, then grilled chicken breasts with slices of red pepper on charcoal.

All agreed it was the best meal we have had together in memory. While we didn't request sales slips, we're reasonably certain we stayed within the $30 budget.

For information about the Fourth Corner Slow Food Chapter, the new leader is Lisa Dailey at lisa@ladailey.com.


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