Slow Food

Slow Food (capitalised) is a not-for-profit grassroots organisation founded by Carlo Petrini in Italy in 1989.

It was created to defend regional food traditions, gastronomic pleasure and quality food. Since the 1980s, the organisation has evolved to represent an entire slow food movement. Today, Slow Food promotes ‘a world in which all people can access and enjoy food that is good for them, good for those who grow it and good for the planet.’ The organisation acknowledges the ‘strong connections between plate, planet, people, politics and culture.’

Slow food (non-capitalised) or the slow food movement is often used to describe the movement that Slow Food (the organisation) ignited.

It can also be a useful word to describe a way of eating and type of conscious consumerism that encourages respecting seasonality, reducing environmental impact within food production, encouraging better education around the food system and supporting local producers and their heritage.

Over time, the beliefs of the Slow Food organisation have been developed and refined. Today, Slow Food is guided by the principle that food systems should produce “good, clean and fair food for everyone”.

GOOD: quality, nourishing food that is full of flavour

CLEAN: food production that is not harmful to the environment

FAIR: prices that are affordable for consumers and fair conditions and income for producers

There are supporters of the organisation in over 160 countries, with Slow Food UK celebrating the culinary traditions of different areas of the UK and seeking to help protect our edible biodiversity.

Slow Food has captured the public imagination and spread across the planet because it touches on a basic human desire. We all like to eat well and are healthier and happier when we do.

Carl Honoré, In Praise of Slowness: Challenging the Cult of Speed

Why embrace the slow food movement?

Become aware of and reduce the environmental and social impact of food production
Enjoy seasonal, nourishing food
Protect our edible biodiversity

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Taste Summer in Ards and North Down

Enjoy local food and drink experiences celebrating the PGI status of the famous Comber Earlies Potato.
Comber Earlies Food Festival

A celebration of the local PGI status Comber Earlies potatoes and the delicious local food and drink offering, with guest chefs and cookery demonstrations, an artisan food market, live music, family entertainment, crafting and more!
Taste Ards and North Down Our Story

Taste Ards and North Down - a leading food region where culinary innovation thrives. The finest and freshest ingredients are sourced in abundance from our fertile fields and sparkling shores and can be found at our markets, artisan food shops and dishes across the region's award-winning restaurants.
Food and Drink

Ards and North Down is well established as a leading food region where culinary innovation thrives. Savour the tastes of our region’s many award-winning restaurants and artisan food shops. Menus feature the finest local fayre and you can enjoy the warmest of welcomes with a ‘wee dram’ of local ale, gin or whiskey.