Slow Food Edmonton Tastings

Slow Food Edmonton: Food and Taste Education

Slow Food Education supports an innovative approach based on the reawakening and training of the senses and the study of all aspects of food: from field to fork. By understanding where our food comes from, how it was produced and by whom, we learn how to combine pleasure and responsibility in daily choices and appreciate the cultural and social importance of food. Our taste education is based on the idea that food means pleasure, culture and conviviality. By introducing ‘good, clean and fair’ food education at these events, increased awareness about food issues and the importance of heritage recipes will be evident. It is important to recover and foster the role of education within the community to ensure the passing on of all knowledge tied to material and social culture, including the culture of food. We believe that food is the ideal instrument with which to experiment and promote an articulated, complex and creative education that gives value to interdependence, the environment and common good.

Objectives for Slow Food Edmonton Tastings:

Tastings are about…

pleasure, a light and convivial occasion to feel good and enjoy ourselves
the values of slowness and respect for our own and other people’s rhythms
learning by doing as hands-on experience increases and strengthens learning
valuing the diversity of cultures, knowledge, skills and opinions
taking time to understand, internalize and elaborate upon one’s own knowledge
encouraging participation by facilitating a common experience, dialogue, self- expression, cooperation and collaboration
a personal journey that involves cognitive, experiential and emotional dimensions
giving value to memory, knowledge and local culture
facilitating exchange within the local community to reinforce the sense of community
developing self-awareness
stimulating curiosity
promoting change
generating new and more responsible thoughts and behavior

(As adapted from the Slow Food International Manifesto on Education and Education Handbook)