The opposite of fast food is…

New year, and fresh start. I’ve been working on some great future travel plans as 2021 and beyond opens up to new possibilities, and I’m excited for what is to come. I’ve developed more clarity in our focus, so I’ll touch on a bit of that this week…

The Slow Food Movement

During my many travels, one of the concepts I’ve discovered in various destinations is the idea called the ‘Slow Food Movement’. It’s both an approach to dining as well as a real organization, which emerged in 1986 in Italy. The Europeans’ gratitude for enjoying meals with wholesome ingredients while sitting down somewhat influenced Americans to ditch the swift-paced lifestyle and experience the real pleasure and art of eating.

Slow food is not referred to food that takes ages to reach you; instead, it is a recent dining concept that unites locally grown whole foods, meals prepared with the soul and body wellbeing in mind, and culinary cuisines that are whole-heartedly appreciated.

An Introduction to the Slow Food Movement

The Slow Food Movement (SFM) was actually started because of McDonald’s! When the fast-food company planned to open its largest location in the world at the foot of the Spanish Steps in Rome, locals were outraged. The protests and resistance that failed to stop McDonald’s developed into the Slow Food Movement to discourage the fast-paced life and fast-food culture and, in return, create awareness in the locals’ eyes about the regional fares. It started as a small group of 62 environment-conscious food-fanatic members in Italy and has now flourished into a worldwide movement that entails more than 100,000 members worldwide.

Though fast food is a common household term, many people have barely heard about slow food. As the name indicates, it is precisely the opposite of fast food. Slow food is entirely about committing yourself to quality instead of speed. It encourages eating local food while conserving and using classic methods to create regional gastronomic delights.

From the Slow Food website, the mission is a food system that is:

• Good, based on delicious nutrition and creating joyful connections to community
• Clean, by protecting natural resources and promoting food that is local, seasonal, and sustainably grown
• Fair, building local cooperation with producers and dignity of labor from field to fork.

When traveling, you won’t hear all the mission and formal goals of the organization, but you will see the belief that food signifies culture, conviviality, and pleasure.

I think the concept of ‘slow’ is very noticeable when dining at a restaurant in Europe, which provides a stark contrast to dining in the United States. We are used to our server moving the pace of dinner along, and they promptly bring the check when the main course is finished, so they can ‘turn’ the table in 1 – 1.5 hours.

When dining in Europe, Americans are often confused when they are allowed to sit and chat at a leisurely pace, and the waiter only brings the check when specifically requested. In Europe, they have a sense of taking the time to enjoy each other and have long conversations, rather than dashing to leave as soon as the meal is eaten.

We believe that everybody should get a chance to experience and enjoy authentic cultures. One of my favorite experiences to include in an itinerary is the opportunity to connect personally with some of the local food producers and create exciting, authentic food experiences.

Some wonderful experiences to try…

Slow Food in Northern Ireland

Contrary to what you may think, Northern Ireland has one of the most exceptional culinary scenes worth experiencing. From the oyster farms {where we got to walk into the oyster beds in the river before tasting the oysters at a riverside shack} to homegrown fresh bread loaves to farm-fresh apples to fish from inlets, there are numerous opportunities to meet with local producers and enlightened artisans. You can learn about the history and culture that influence the growth or creation of the food, as well as savor the taste.

Slow Food in Italy

Though the farm-to-table idea has recently caught speed in the United States, Europe has been implementing and preserving these ideologies for a long time. When in Italy, you will notice how simple, clean, fresh, and seasonal Italian cuisine is. Even while eating piles of macaroni and pasta, you will feel so much healthier.

Everything tastes better solely because the Italians only purchase their groceries from the farmers’ stands to ensure optimal freshness. Italy is the best place to savor the true essence of the slow food crusade. During our travels, we’ve enjoyed so many experiences tasting local favorites while meeting the farmers or producers – balsamic vinegar in Modena, truffle products in Alba, risotto in Vercelli, wine all over.

Slow Food in Canada

One of the must-experiences in culinary heritage is in Quebec, Canada, visiting a sugar shack. It’s a perfect experience of getting to know the local producers as you visit their farm, see the sap collected from maple trees, and then learn about the process of making maple syrup.

Then comes the eating! While we might be used to maple syrup on pancakes, they put maple syrup on everything – and it’s fantastic. This is another example of how integrating the food traditions of a region within our travels provides amazing insight into the history and culture of the destination.

A Few Ways to Enjoy Slow Food

Enjoy and share the slow dining experience. The ideal way to relish the delectableness of fresh, wholesome food is to eat your meals at a slow pace. Take your time when dining out. At home, cook dinner with your partner or family, or invite your friend to become a part of the meal together and be grateful for the finished product.

Enjoy and share the slow dining experience. The ideal way to relish the delectableness of fresh, wholesome food is to eat your meals at a slow pace. Take your time when dining out. At home, cook dinner with your partner or family, or invite your friend to become a part of the meal together and be grateful for the finished product.

I think the slow food movement gives us an excellent focus for our future travels and insight into how we can dine even we are at home or trying out local restaurants.