Slow it Down

Maumee Valley Slow Food Chapter helps local foodies take it easy

by Louise Mikesell-Wireman

published January 16th 2008

Sometimes there’s something to be said for taking it slow. The Slow Food Movement is a national group of food fanatics who aim to counteract hectic lifestyles and fast food.

And the Maumee Valley chapter offers a delicious option for local foodies.

The Slow Food Movement was founded in Italy 53 years ago as a protest against the then-burgeoning fast food movement and today includes 80,000 members in more than 100 countries. The Maumee Valley Chapter, which boasts more than 50 members was founded in June 2007 by former Lucas County Democratic Party head and current University of Toledo researcher Paula Ross, who sent out invitations to friends who shared her love of food. A longtime member of the Ann Arbor chapter, Ross knew Toledo would benefit from such a group.

"I decided to start a local chapter (of Slow Food) to create events closer to home," said Ross.

The group, which meets semi-regularly, comes together to eat, exchange recipes and hear about local produce and talk with others who love food. Publicly known members include Lucy Long a professor teaching local food history at Bowling Green State University; Mike Szuberla the director of the Toledo Botanical Garden’s urban gardening program Toledo Grows; and Ralph and Gini Behrendt, owners of the Downtown based Flying Rhino Coffee and Chocolate.

Gini used to live in North Carolina, spending three years on a goat dairy farm operated by Slow Food members.

“Joining Slow Food was a natural for Ralph and me,” said Gini. “We love to cook, enjoy the Toledo Farmers Market, and love Paula Ross.”

The group is diverse with a central theme — enjoying eating food with family and friends, learning where to shop to find local foods, wine and beverages, learning where the food comes from, and to help farmers be able to continue to grow for consumers. Many members are neither farmers nor producers of food, but have a keen interest in food and recipes. Many members already shop the area farmers’ markets and specialty food stores. You can bet that every meeting includes some tasty dishes, interesting beverages and great conversation.

Membership is $60 a year per person or $75 a couple, with the requirement that you take time to enjoy food and friends in the spirit of the movement’s motto — “slow food.”

Slow Food is simply about taking time to slow down and enjoy life. This can be done simply by sitting down to a meal at the table, snacking on local apples and cheese, sampling local wines, buying locally roasted coffee beans and shopping a farmers’ market or farm stand.

For membership information and info on forthcoming events, visit www.slowfoodmaumeevalley.blogspot.com.