Taking Time Out to Spin a Yarn About Slow Food

Slow Food was started in 1988 in a very supportive Bra, Italy by Carlo Petrini. He was petrified by a McDonald's being opened in Rome. Slow Food aims to spotlight artisan food and protect traditional methods of production. They support the artisans and educate the public, so the lovely flavours and art are not lost forever due to the growing prevelance (...well it has taken over) of fast food all around us.

Here is a small glossary of Slow Food speak:

*Cittaslow- Literally means slow city. A place that embraces the aspects of living slow and is designated by Slow Food.

*Arc of Taste- The aim here is to rediscover, catalog, describe and publicise forgotten flavours.

*Terra Madre- A bi-annual conference held at Torino, Italy dealing with food issues and put on by Slow Food. It is also a group of food communities devoted to producing high quality food in a sustainable way.

*Presidia- These are projects to assist groups of artisan producers that are under threat. The goal here is to safeguard market presence of diverse, traditional food.

*Convivia- The local chapters of Slow Food.

As was mentioned previously, I helped the Ludlow area convivia with their booth in the 2005 Ludlow Food Festival. Here are a few scenes from that time; with the blood pudding, local honey, Cheshire cheeses and perry that I helped promote.

Ludlow, Shropshire, England was the very first Cittaslow town in Britian. Since then others have been added:

*Aylsham, Norfolk, England
*Berwick Upon Tweed, Northumberland, England
*Diss, Norfolk, England
*Mold, Flintshire, Wales
*Perth, Perth and Kinross, Scotland
*Cockermouth, Cumbria, England
*Sturminster Newton, Dorset, England

Arc of Taste products in the UK include:

* Herdwick Mutton

*Colchester native oysters

*unpasteurised Cheshire cheese

*Three Counties Perry ( Ludlow area convivia project)
http://www.threecountiesperry.co.uk/

Presidia in the UK:

*Three Counties Perry

*Artisan Somerset Cheddar

*Old Glouscester Beef

*Single and double Gloucester cheese made from the milk of Old Glocester cattle

*Fal oysters

This year in the store front window contest, as part of the Ludlow Food Festival, this is Slow Food entryI thought it was pretty cute and well done, as it pertains to another food fest event called the sausage trail. Following on this "trail" are some cheeky sausages, I just have to reveal. ;-)

Meet Disco Diva- This cocktail sausage is definately a mouth filler. WARNING:This sausage has a high alcohol content.Here is Couch Potato- This one has a high fat content. Can leave you feeling rather sluggish. Best eaten at home in front of the telly.

Introducing Yoga- A calm and serene sausage with a delicate, pliable taste. This sausage is reportedly good for mind, body and Sole.
May I present Escargot- This is an unusual French tasting sausage. However, a bit of an aquired taste.

Last but not least we have Copy Cat- This well known sausage constantly nicks others flavours from original sausages. Previous festival winner. Leaves a bitter after taste.

Slow food, or fast food? I choose slow food everytime!