"slow food movement" news and stories

• Have you ever found yourself in the grocery store, staring at all the bottles of olive oil, trying to determine which will give you the most flavor for your buck? The FoodDay staff sampled their way through 15 different varieties, in the hopes of finding the best of the lot.
• The Slow Food Movement is descending from its lofty perch to lobby in support of farm workers.
• For those of you lucky enough to live in the Rogue Valley, make sure to head to the Rogue Creamery this Saturday for the 5th annual Oregon Cheese Festival.
• Corn chowder made with Green Giant's 'Mexicorn,' shredded chicken and cumin is a quick, satisfying dinner.
• Confused by wine availability? Click here to learn more about wine's three-tiered distribution system.
• Tis the season for corned beef! Check your local grocery store for great deals and consider baking your beef instead of boiling it.
• Ivy Manning's three-cheese pizza with kale is a meatless meal that won't leave anyone hungry.

Waters' cookbook, The Art of Simple Food, is a fantastic introduction to the slow food movement.

The movement was founded in the late 1980s by a group of people who wanted to bring back local food traditions that had taken a backseat to technology as our lifestyles picked up speed and changed course. Slow Food International, the non-profit, member-supported group that popularized the idea, does not pretend to have discovered a revolutionary idea. Instead, it reiterates principles that people in places like Italy and France have lived by for thousands of years: celebrating biodiversity in our food supply, utilizing local ingredients and taking the time to enjoy and appreciate our food and where it comes from.

But back to the cookbook. Waters' recipes echo the food she serves at her own restaurant, Che Panisse - she pays close attention to details, and the dishes are full-bodied and well-rounded. The book features a much-needed "techniques" section, and accompanying each recipe is a nice description of the dish, and several variations on ingredients and preparation. Even if you're not yet a slow food convert, recipes Waters' Spicy Cauliflower Soup and Chocolate Crackle Cookies will win you over.