When a MacDonalds outlet was opened at the bottom of the Spanish Steps in Rome in 1986, local resident Carlo Petrini was not best pleased. But where others may have muttered a few curses and left it at that, Petrini founded the Slow Food association, a movement aimed at protecting 'the pleasures of the table' from ruin by the fast pace of life epitomised by fast food chains. Slow Food now has an international following and boasts 83,000 members in Italy, Germany, Switzerland, the USA, France, Japan and the UK. "On an international level it's starting to have quite a lot in common with the Fair Trade movement," said Nick Miller of Slow Food Bristol. "The national organisations are quite proud of their national food heritage and do what they can to promote it. Locally different convivia [groups] do different things. "Some are just social clubs but in Bristol we want to achieve a number of different projects, things like improving the access to quality food." Local produce
 | | Slow Food makes taste its No1 priority |
This goal lead to the first ever Bristol Slow Food Market which came to the city in September 2004. It was such a success that Bristol City Council decided to make it a regular event, starting at the beginning of April. Bristol City Council markets manager, Steve Morris, said: "The high attendance, range of produce on offer and the wonderful atmosphere was inspirational. "Working in partnership with the Slow Food movement has paid dividends and we look forward to the continued success of the UK's first regular Slow Food market." More than 30 different producers attended the event, selling a huge range of products. The choice included freshly baked specialty breads, local cheeses, vegetables, fish, meat and poultry. There were also plenty of luxuries such as organic wines, organic ice cream, handmade chocolates, plants, mushroom logs, spices and produce from the Mediterranean. Trade links Not all of the food is organic, but Nick stressed that production method are very important to the Slow Food movement. "Organic is a production method that starts from the soil up, whereas Slow Food starts from the end product, from the taste, and works its way back," he said. "What we're much more interested in is knowing that the production methods are entirely accountable. It's impossible to produce a great product from a bad method." Other projects which the Bristol Slow Food group hopes to see in the city include re-establishing links with historic trading partners such as Porto, Jerez and Bordeaux, and educating children about food. The next Slow Food market will take place on 1 May from 10 am to 3 pm and there after is planned for the first Sunday of every month. | 
