Slow Food: Saving the World's Cultural Cuisine
By Linda Griffith

This fall, the local chapter intends to send six farmers and two chefs.

Ohio is a diverse region filled with farm communities and a rich culinary heritage. The Northern Ohio Slow Food Convivium places a special premium on educating people in this region about local products and the value of the state's farming community. Like all Slow Food convivia, Ohio is interested in educating the palates of children. The local convivium frequently offers programs in schools and events at farmers' markets because Slow Food recognizes that passing along culinary treasures to youth will help save local foods.

A number of Northern Ohio Convivium events have been organized for 2006. These include an artisan cheese tasting, a barbecue featuring heritage-breed meats, a wine tour and tasting, as well as a chocolate tasting. The local convivium also will be arranging for a tour of the farms in the Cuyahoga Valley National Park and the second annual discussion with its director Darwin Kelsey, a 2004 Terra Madre representative. (For information regarding these member-only events and for information about how to join, please refer to www.SlowFoodUSA.org.) Many more activities are still in the planning stages for 2006, including a cookbook club and other dining events at local restaurants. A dinner that is open to the public will be held on June 5 to raise money to send the local representatives to Terra Madre (see the end of this article for details).

Although the Northern Ohio Convivium spends a great deal of time celebrating and experiencing foods and culinary traditions, it also is deeply concerned about the longevity and well being of the remaining farms in our region. By supporting local farms and markets, as well as restaurants and stores that utilize local products and practice traditional cooking methods, Slow Food can play an important role in preserving the region's biodiversity and culinary diversity while allowing members to enjoy a delicious meal.

On June 5, 2006, the Northern Ohio Slow Food Convivium will host a dinner to raise money to send local representatives to Italy for the 2006 Terre Madre event. The dinner, at Carrie Cerino's Ristorante & Party Center in North Royalton, will feature some of the area's top chefs. For more information, call Linda Griffith at (216) 378-9307. To reserve a ticket, call Carrie Cerino's at (440) 237-3434.

The Northern Ohio Convivium welcomes new members. To join Slow Food, call (718) 260-8000 or visit www.SlowFoodUSA.org.

Linda Griffith is the Northern Ohio Slow Food Convivium co-leader with her husband Fred. Together they have authored numerous cookbooks.