I am catching on to the Slow Food movement. I always knew it was there but now I am beginning to understand what it is all about. We've been eating local cheese, drunk local wine, enjoyed local pork and sampled local olive oil, much of it produced on the premises in small quantities for local people. It is not branded. It comes in bottles without labels. It doesn't need accompanying information except that given verbally when it is served. It doesn't come with an image, a brand or a manufactured reputation. It is served confidently by the producer so he or she stands by the integrity of their product.
We do it in England in a small way but often we feel the need to add a layer of marketing, to build demand, to extend distribution. Which kind of defeats the purpose. Here in Italy this isn't fast food rushed to the consumer. It's slow. That makes all the difference. Made with local knowledge from local ingredients.
So I am going to do my bit, just as soon as I get home. I am going to bake more bread and cook more fish. But no wild promises that may be difficult to keep. I am just going to take it slowly.
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