The Slow Food Movement

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The inception of the Slow Food Movement was in 1986 by a man named Carlo Petrini in response to the invasive fast food chain Mcdonalds making its way to the historic Italian capital city, Rome. Rome is notable internationally for it’s great food, culture and traditions. Carlo Petrini worries the fast food chain would threaten the local traditions and ostracise ,the local dining establishments of the working class (Slow Food History). Therefore Petrini created his own form of backlash, refraining from conventional protesting tactics and strategies such as picketing, marching and boycotting. Instead he armed his people with a bowl of penne pasta. Declaring,“ we don’t want fast food … we want slow food!” This was the beginning of the Slow Food idea/movement which was then born. Carlo could not stand to sit back and watch the destruction brought by global industrialization of food, along with the cultural culinary and social cost brought on by homogenized eating (Slow Food History).

Carlo Petrini realized that it was essential to start an “eco-gastronomic” movement in order to preserve the alternative food choices available. This movement aims for environmental sustainability, and the study of culture and food, in order to draw the connection between the food you eat and the earth that provided it (Slow Food USA).

The emergence of Mcdonalds in Rome would inevitably change the Italian Roman food Culture’s integrity; and this is exactly what Carlo Petrini an Italian journalist did not want to happen. Once the first Mcdonalds was built in Rome adjacent to the Spanish Steps Piazza di Spagna. Carlo Petrini was appalled by the emergence of this infectious fast food chain in his home country's capital. So he started The “Slow Food” Movem...

... middle of paper ...

...such as “ supporting farmers markets and CSAs, creating school and community gardens, and joining members from disparate ends of the food system in debate and common cause”

Works Cited

"Carlo Petrini: The Slow Food Gourmet Who Started a Revolution." The Independent. Independent Digital News and Media, n.d. Web. 12 Mar. 2014.

POPHAM, PETER. "Slow Food’s Carlo Petrini on Biodiversity, Food Politics and Home-cooking." Colorado Table Web. N.p., 10 Dec. 2009. Web. 13 Mar. 2014.

"Slow Food USA." : About Us. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Mar. 2014.

WHere it is going (http://blogs.denverpost.com/food/2013/05/02/petrini/18793/)

(Cuisine and culture A history of Food and People)

(http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/food-and-drink/features/carlo-petrini-the-slow-food-gourmet-who-started-a-revolution-1837223.html)

(http://www.slowfoodusa.org/what-we-do)

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