Slow down and enjoy your food!

In staying with my commitment to keep a few of January posts on the healthy side, makes it the perfect time to tell you about Slow Food.

Founded and headquartered in Bra, Italy, Slow Food is the largest not-for-profit, educational food organization in the world. A local Slow Foods chapter is called a Convivium. The Kansas City Convivium was founded in October of 2002.

With movies like Food Inc. and Fresh, people are now questioning more about the foods they eat. This new trend of sustainable and local eating is sweeping the nation. Part of this new interest in locally grown, seasonal fare is that the people of Kansas City want the option to choose local and sometimes organic foods.

This is where Slow Food Kansas City comes in. Slow Food Kansas City focuses on food and community by supporting local growers and farmers and teaching the community about choice and season.

The different events Slow Food Kansas City hold throughout the year highlights and supports all things delicious and local and raises awareness on where to find local and seasonal foods.

If tasting artisan cocktails and small plates at the R Bar, visiting the Shatto Dairy or attending a cheese tasting at Green Dirt Farms seem like something you would enjoy, now is the time to join Slow Food Kansas City as those are some up coming events.

Right now Slow Food is offering a special membership rate of only $25.00 per person a year. I had the opportunity to join Slow Food last year and the membership rate was $75.00 so the $25.00 special they are offering is a heck of a deal!

Some events held last year that I was able to attend were a “Green Eggs and Ham Brunch” that featured eggs from a local egg farmer, bacon from Schenker Family Farms, homemade breads from Meadowlark Acres and a delicious cider donut bread pudding that Chef Michael Hursey of Casa Somerset made using local products from the Louisburg Cider Mill.

Another event was a behind the scenes tour and tasting of Christopher Elbow Chocolate Shop where he demonstrated how he makes his chocolates and Glace ice cream. I also attended the Harvest in the Vineyard potluck out at Somerset Ridge Winery, where Chef Jasper Mirabile slow roasted an amazing porchetta in a special roasting box called La Caja China.

Slow Food Kansas City is a nonprofit organization and uses their funds to support local community organizations. Last year Slow Food Kansas City held a culinary garage sale and donated funds to The Broadmoor Technical School which owns the Broadmoor Bistro. The Broadmoor Bistro is run by the high school students in culinary arts classes and is the only high school culinary program to partner with the James Beard Foundation. This year Slow Food Kansas City plans to support, Rosedale Healthy Kids, The Broadmoor Technical School, Kansas City Community Gardens, and Culinary Cornerstone.

Slow Food holds events throughout the Kansas City area, so if you are a proud owner of a locally owned restaurant that prides itself on using local products get in touch with the Slow Food organization about joining and holding an event at your venue. This will not only give your business some exposure it also lets the community know you are committed to serving delicious food while supporting Kansas City’s local farmers and producers.

Slow Food is an organization for everyone. Whether you are foodie that just loves to eat, a local food producer or farmer or a restaurant owner that is proud to serve local fare. Join today.

For information on joining, please call Mariann Vandenberg at 913-648-0858 or download the application form and mail it with your $25.00 to Slow Food Kansas City, Attn: Ms. Sarah Reed 3301 Windsor Avenue Kansas City, MO 64123

In Good Taste,
Sharm