How I Went Hungry at Slow Food Nation

I have to say I was curious about the (4.00 / 2)

meat-centric focus of the event, particularly because SFN gave so much attention to Michael Pollan who specifically tells his readers to eat mostly plants.

The taste pavilions had limited animal-free products... some Indian breads, a Native American dish, beer, wine, spirits, jams and honeys, coffee, tea, and olive oil... a long list but most of those are things to drink. But then there were the dairy foods - pizza, cheese, ice cream - and the meats - fish, charcuterie, sausage pizza, buffalo. Next time around I'd appreciate some fruits, veggies, and nuts as inclusions, simply because they are the foundations of a healthy diet even for meat eaters.

"I can understand someone from Iowa promoting corn and soy, but we are not feeding the world, we are feeding animals and soft drink companies." - Jim Goodman

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by: Jill Richardson @ Mon Sep 01, 2008 at 13:27:03 PM CDT

That's interesting... (4.00 / 2)

I've got to admit I've never been much into the Slow Food organization myself, but I wouldn't have thought that their events would be so heavily skewed towards meat.  

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think Slow Food is more geared towards celebrating taste and community though, rather than a main focus on sustainability, so I think our current meat-heavy culture is a strong influence on the organization and their events.

I didn't go, although it would have been a nice convenient excuse for me to be able get down to the Bay Area again for a few days...

That's really sort of strange, though.  I would have thought an event like that, especially in San Francisco (and where they even went out and planted a showcase Victory Garden), would have been at least somewhat vegetarian-friendly.  

I'm a vegetarian, too...and on my visit to family back in New Jersey a few months ago, I realized just how much Portland has spoiled me.  Every place we went out to eat there (even at a 'progressive-ish' semi-green brewpub) only had maybe three or four vegetarian options, and most of those were just simple salads.  

It was a bit of a culture shock from here in Portland, where even barbecue restaurants have about half-vegetarian menus...

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by: JayinPortland @ Mon Sep 01, 2008 at 14:30:36 PM CDT

I don't really understand the Slow Food love affair with meat (4.00 / 1)

I get that it's part of most people's diets and therefore showcasing higher quality, sustainably raised meats is a good idea. But why they seem to ignore the idea that some people don't eat meat? Beats me.

This isn't representative of all Slow Food, just my own local "convivium" - but they have restaurant recommendations on their site and last I checked they excluded my favorite restaurant, Spread, a restaurant that would totally meet their standards if not exceed them. I mentioned this to a woman from San Diego Slow Food and when I told her the place was vegetarian she said she wouldn't even go eat there because she needs meat in her meals. I REALLY don't get that. I've taken several non-veggies to this place and everyone loves it.

"I can understand someone from Iowa promoting corn and soy, but we are not feeding the world, we are feeding animals and soft drink companies." - Jim Goodman

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by: Jill Richardson @ Mon Sep 01, 2008 at 15:38:40 PM CDT

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Yeah, I kinda figured... (4.00 / 1)

each local chapter (okay, I'll say it - 'convivium'.  Heh...) would have their own preferences.  Are the ones in other countries as meat-heavy as American chapters?

I'm not a member, but from what I understand Slow Food Portland was the first local American convivium, founded in 1991 shortly after Slow Food USA was formed.  I wonder if this chapter is more veg-friendly than most?  I can't find much on their very basic website, but this sounds like they may be -

One of the events will be a luncheon (August 10) al fresco at Nana Cardoon, a garden-based learning center. Hosts Charlene Murdock and Richard White are passionate about Slow Food and Terra Madre having attending both gatherings in past few years. The menu draws from both Gales Meadow Farm and Nana Cardoon including polenta made with a special variety of corn grown at Nana Cardoon; Anne's vegetables baked in a clay oven, farm eggs, salad greens and more. And an hors d'oeuvre will be served in the root cellar and Terra Madre farmer delegate Anne Berblinger has offered a tour of her farm after the meal at Nana Cardoon.

Slow Food Portland also did some promotion of that Ken Meter "Future of Food in Oregon" talk that I attended here back in April, even though that one was arranged by Oregon Food Bank.

You would think that since the most vocal and active proponents of local food tend to largely be farmers rather than ranchers or small artisan meat producers, they would have more influence on groups like Slow Food.  Especially in vegetarian-friendly West Coast cities.    

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by: JayinPortland @ Mon Sep 01, 2008 at 16:11:41 PM CDT

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