The story of Slow Food begins in Italy in the 1980s when a group of activists formed a countermovement to the increasingly popular fast food. The initial aim was to defend regional traditions and good food as well as gastronomic pleasure and a slow pace of life. Today, Slow Food is a global, grassroots organization that involves millions of people from around the world, raising awareness about where our food comes from and how our food choices affect the world around us.
“In over two decades of history, the movement has evolved to embrace a comprehensive approach to food that recognizes the strong connections between plate, planet, people, politics and culture.”
Slow Food
The movement advocates the preservation of regional cuisine with native plant and animal products as well as their local production. In this context, Slow Food stands for products with an authentic character, produced and enjoyed in a traditional or original way. As part of this, Slow Food connects producers, traders and consumers, conveys knowledge about the quality of food, and thus makes the food market more transparent. But with just as much commitment, the Slow Food movement also pursues a philosophy of enjoyment and mindfulness in eating.
Slow Food as a statement.
Slow Food refers to the concept of “eating with care”. However, the followers of the Slow Food movement are not just concerned with chewing every bite thoroughly; they see themselves as conscious epicures and conscientious consumers who are also committed to sustainable food production. In addition, Slow Food also seeks to change behavior in the kitchen and at the dinner table. Deceleration is the magic word here. The idea is to take time for cooking, include the kids as helpers, and then eat, talk and laugh together, and ultimately leave smartphones and TVs behind again.
If you’re looking to try Slow Food for yourself, check out the recipes below.
Slow Cooked Wild Alaska King Salmon
This Slow Cooked Wild Alaska King Salmon recipe is one of our favorite seafood dishes. The flavorful fish is cooked slowly to ensure the best taste and texture. It’s rounded out with fresh peas and a creamy puree made from California pistachios and topped off with a fresh and crispy herb salad. Beyond a great taste, Alaska Salmon comes from a pristine environment, where great importance lies in ensuring that the fish grow up in their natural habitat. Fishermen from Alaska treat existing resources with care in order to maintain the health of the ecosystem.
Texas BBQ-Beef-Brisket
Slow-roasted Brisket is one of the best things you can make with fresh U.S. beef. Aside from being known as delicious, U.S. beef is a high-quality, safe and wholesome product. Farmers and ranchers in the U.S. are trained on the best practices of cattle management to ensure that their animals and the environment are cared for within a standard set of guidelines and regulations across the U.S. beef industry. Furthermore, all of the U.S. beef exported to the EU has to comply not only with U.S. production practices but also with EU food standards, ensuring a feel-good product.
The Texas BBQ-Beef-Brisket is a particularly nice way to cook and enjoy beef. This juicy meat is rubbed with a mixture of different spices and then slowly braised for 3 hours in a marinade of wine and BBQ sauce. While you wait, you can easily prepare some side dishes like roasted potatoes or vegetables.
Stuffed Pumpkin
This vibrant Stuffed Pumpkin might just be the perfect slow food for fall. The vibrant Hokkaido pumpkins are filled to the brim with a breaded mixture of U.S. wild rice, minced meat, and U.S. Cranberries and then slowly baked in the oven until tender. The hearty dish is topped off with some fresh parsley and crunchy California Walnuts. This recipe is just perfect for all Stuffing Lovers.
