Recently attended a slow food breakfast at Blue Ginger Restaurant, where apart from an excellent breakfast of ricotta pancakes served with tomato, basil, onion and olive oil, followed by coffee bean panna cotta, the secretary for Slow Food Noosa Convivia Anne Marshall was the guest speaker. Anne who has been an active member of the food industry for many years, with amongst other things 22 cook books to her credit gave an insight into the slow food movement and its philosophy. Slow Food is an international member-supported non-profit organisation. This international network supports sustainable food production and distribution, promotes educational projects around the world and encourages regional food traditions. Promotes taste education, defends bio diversity and supports small scale, sustainable, local economies worldwide.
Slow Food is good, clean and fair food. The food we eat should taste good; it should be produced in a clean way that does not harm the environment, animal welfare or our health; and that food producers should receive fair compensation for their work.
I love the taste of fresh fruit and vegetables but with our current systems of producing, processing and distributing food, taste and the health benefits of the finished product is quite often compromised. I spent many years in a rural environment and the pleasure of being able to grow and eat fruits, vegetables, herbs etc grown in the backyard knowing exactly what went into their production ( if a lemon is required go and pick one). This is a time I will cherish always, mind you there was a lot of work involved as well. In the urban environment I find myself in now is not always so easy to grow your own food so I am a great supporter of Farmers Markets and all things organic. Educating children is high on the agenda and its great to see schools starting vegetable gardens, teaching permaculture and encouraging children`s awareness of the joys of food.
Anne took time to tell us a bit about herself and her involvement with the Slow Food Movement and its humble beginnings. That great phrase “from little things big things grow” is a good fit here.
Is there a Slow Food Convivia in your area?
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