Source: http://www.slowfood.com/
Ticket sales commenced last week for the inaugural and much anticipated Slow Food Nation event, to be held in San Francisco at the end of August. Designed to demonstrate the bond between ‘planet and palate’, this four-day celebration is the first national American event dedicated to Slow Food goals.
The inspiring program will bring visitors into contact with the best of America’s good, clean and fair food and producers as well as providing an opportunity for cooks, farmers and artisan producers, academics and students, authors and activists to come together to discuss today’s pertinent issues around food production.
Among several key features, fifteen Taste Pavilions will each tell the story of a different American-produced food, offering tastes, demonstrations and workshops. At the cheese pavilion, for example, exhibitors will demonstrate how cheese is made and samples of more than 200 artisan cheeses will be available. Other pavilions will focus on beer, charcuterie, chocolate, coffee, fish, honey and preserves, ice cream, native foods, olive oil, pickles and chutney, spirits, tea and wine.
Slow Food Nation will also include a Market in the Civic Center Plaza, where sixty Californian producers will offer their goods. Visitors will be able to purchase directly from the farmers, breeders, fisherfolk and artisan producers as well as having the chance to learn more about the region’s biological and cultural diversity and local food traditions. Market vendors have been approved by Slow Food Nation organizers for their commitment to using good (delicious), clean (environmentally friendly) and fair (socially just) production practices.
Also in the plaza, the ornamental edible garden Victory Garden will be established on July 12 at a Community Planting Day. This example of urban agriculture will feature an array of local heritage vegetable varieties and demonstrate a range of food production practices. Produce harvested during and following Slow Food Nation will be donated to those with limited access to fresh, organic food.
Culinary icon and Slow Food International vice-president Alice Waters has played a pivotal role in organizing this national celebration and will speak at the Food for Thought series being held over August 29 - 30. Other renowned speakers include Michael Pollan, Marion Nestle, Wendell Berry and Slow Food President Carlo Petrini.
For further information or to purchase tickets:http://www.slowfoodnation.org/
