20–27 March 2010Slow Food reminds us that cooking a meal at home can feed our imaginations and educate our senses. For the ritual of cooking and eating together constitutes the basic element of family and community life. In short, Slow Food can teach us the things that really matter – compassion, beauty, community and sensuality – all the best that humans are capable of.
Alice Waters, proprietor of Chez Panisse restaurant, California and Vice President of Slow Food International
A number of years ago, Edinburgh’s Slow Food convivium initiated an informal monthly gathering called Slow Suppers. Held at a local restaurant, they’re relaxed, convivial, inexpensive occasions centred on good food and good company.
To celebrate Slow Food’s values of hospitality, homecooking and the sharing of food, Slow Suppers are once again moving into members’ homes for a week in late March. We'd like to encourage local members to put themselves forward to host suppers. You can find out what's involved by reading below.
Once we have some hosts in place, we'll open up the suppers for members to sign up as guests. To find out what to expect and how it works, see below.
I'd like to host a Slow Supper at home. What does it involve?- Sign up as a host by filling in the form found at this link.
You'll be asked choose a date between 20 and 27 March to host a supper.
- As a hosting home, you will be expected to provide the main course for the dinner, which will typically be for six people. The host is allocated two places and a further four places would be available for guests.
- Once you are registered as a host venue on a certain date, other Slow Food members can book to come along as guests. Typically, we expect folk to choose to attend a supper in their local area, but this is not a requirement.
- Guests are not expected to pay for their meal but would be encouraged to bring a contribution of a starter or dessert/cheese plus wine – guidelines on these will be provided when they book.
- Guests will only be given your address when they have booked. Most communications between the organiser, hosts and guests will be via email.
- For security reasons, only Slow Food members can sign up as guests, though a member is welcome to bring along a non-member.
I'd like to attend a Slow Supper at home. What does it involve?- Apply to attend a supper by filling in the form found at this link. If this seems rather elaborate simply to go out to supper, please keep in mind that it is only by this method that we can organise the logistics of the suppers properly, introduce you to your hosts, and offer an element of security for everyone involved.
- Choose
a supper on a date and in a location that suits you. The booking
process involves you filling out a form confirming your Slow Food
membership and providing a few introductory details to your hosts.
- When
you book, you'll also choose to bring a contribution of a starter or a
dessert to the meal. When deciding what to bring, we'd ask you to
consider a few obvious health, safety and dietary issues. If you'd like
some suggestions on good shops where you might find something suitable
to bring along, have a look at our Slow Food Recommended lists.
- In addition to the contribution of starter/dessert, we'd encourage each pair of guests to bring a bottle of wine (or equivalent) to share with fellow guests at the meal.
All in all, it promises to be a great way to get to know some Slow Food friends, share your local cooking knowledge or gain some new food experiences and knowledge from others. We also hope it will prove the strength of Slow Food values in Edinburgh and inspire us all about good, local, simple food and the pleasures of the table.
For further information, have a look at the Slow Suppers at Home FAQs.
If you have queries about the suppers, contact taste@slowfoodedinburgh.co.uk.
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