Choice 4: Slow Foods Gathering

Slow Foods at EvCC

The act of gathering at the table together to dine is a powerful one; it speaks of community and sustenance, both physical and spiritual. As we’ve read and discussed FFN, I have been profoundly disturbed at the hegemony of the fast food principles which seem to be insinuating themselves into every aspect of our lives. And even more disturbing is this feeling of helplessness over what can be done. So in protest, I say we eat and eat well. Let’s break bread together in defiance of the McDonald’s and Pizza Huts out there and have our own gathering of Slow Foods.

For this gathering, please prepare one dish from scratch. This should be a dish that is significant to your own family or culture in some way. It could be something as simple as Grandma Hornby’s shortcake recipe or something as elaborate as Aunt Bertha’s wild boar mushroom stroganoff which only makes a grand appearance once a year at Thanksgiving. Whatever the dish is, it should have some meaning beyond just food. On Slow Foods day, each of us will tell the story of our dish before inviting others to partake of it. We will gather, tell stories, and then eat the creations. In anticipation of our Slow Foods gathering, give some thought as to what dish would be both enjoyable and significant for you to make and share with the class. If you somehow manage to get your family member to make it for you, that’s ok as long as you’re present during the process. You will definitely need to plan ahead to get the recipe (if you don’t already have it), buy the ingredients, prepare the food, and transport it to us.

You will also be telling us the recipe for the dish as well as the story/experience of making it for our class on your final blog of the quarter. The blog should include a photo of the dish, possibly with people enjoying it. (I’d like to ask people with digital cameras to bring them on Friday and if you don’t have one, ask one of the others to photograph your dish for you.) It should then have the actual recipe, including the story of its significance to your family, whose recipe is it, etc. Finally, your blog should include your experience of doing this project for class, including the final slow foods gathering. I anticipate that it’s going to be time-consuming, and in some ways, that’s part of the point of doing this. Include the difficulties and frustrations of getting the recipe, making it, bringing it, etc. But also include reflections on seeing, hearing, and eating with your family as well as your classmates.

Our Slow Foods gathering will be Friday, Mar. 10. The final blog including the reflection of the gathering will be due by midnight, Sun., Mar 12.