If I didn’t have a wedding to attend, work and family in town, I would totally be at this radical potluck that’s happening over at Monticello’s Tufton Farm on Sunday.
Monticello’s own veggie and fruit gardens (photo courtesy of monticello.org)
Slow Food Albermarle Piedmont (SFAP, which is fun to say) is having their first kick-off yum fest from 4-7pm at the Thomas Jefferson Center for Historic Plants. It will be a potluck and participants are asked to consider giving a $10 donation (to SFAP) as well as sharing a dish of some homegrown goods on non-disposable dishes.
When I first encountered the term ‘Slow Food’ I thought it was just a good title for the cookbook I was ogling. Alas, when I went back to my local bookstore to find that particular book I was met with dozens of cookbooks with a similar title. And, no, it’s not just a fancy new escargot-only diet (although, the go-to Slow Food quarterly is called The Snail).
Slow Food began, in fact, to counter the ‘fast food’ culture that was literally taking over an Italian neighborhood one McDonald’s at a time. About 25 years and many international chapters later, Slow Food has crept into the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains with the help of the folks at Roundabout Farm, among others. It’s not just about food. The movement encourages more community and individual involvement with food- from school gardens to farm tours and tastings it’s about having a true relationship with your eats and others.
If you would like to learn more about SFAP or just go get your fingers sticky with fresh figs and peach pie, drop the Slow folks a line: slowfoodalbemarle.piedmont@gmail.com. I’m sure they’ll get right back to you (only kidding)!
Are you going to the picnic? If so, be sure to let me know how delicious it was!