Slow’s Shrewd
Three life lessons from Italy’s Slow Food Movement
Back in 1986, it was announced that fast food supremo McDonald’s was to open its first outlet in Rome, Italy near “the widest and longest staircase in Europe” — the iconic, beautiful 18th- century Spanish Steps. Instead of wolf’s milk, Romulus and Remus were going to be feeding from the golden breasts of Mother McDonald and there was nothing anyone could do about it.
Or so they thought.
The response was characteristic of a country where one of the most popular topics of conversation between friends, family and strangers is food. Proving that the penne is mightier than the billboard, journalist Carlo Petrini and a small group of friends handed out bowls of pasta to the passing public at the site of the proposed new restaurant. Their slogan was simple, but effective: “We don’t want fast food, we want slow food!”
A revolution had begun.
Slow-forward 37 years and the Slow Food mission statement says it all: “the movement has evolved to embrace a comprehensive approach to food that recognizes the strong connections between plate, planet, people, politics and culture. Today…
