While conviviality is implicit in our name and monthly events, Slow Food Cape Town aims to become a force for tradition and preservation in the Cape. We identify and present awards to artisanal producers annually and intend extending the scope of these awards.

We hope to follow Slow Food Italy in establishing an “Ark of Taste”, to identify and record threatened species. The Cape boasts an enormous wealth of indigenous plants and herbs, many of which need to be saved from extinction.

Slow Food Cape Town also concerned about the environment. As Petrini says, you cannot be a true gourmet without being a conservationist. In an age where genetically modified foodstuffs are the norm – and animal fodder has caused mad cow disease – we support organic farming and natural products like cheese from non-pasteurised milk.

The international movement puts its money where its mouth is in the form of the International Slow Food Awards. I, and members of my committee, serve on the international Slow Food jury which votes for candidates realising the Slow Food objectives.

The Cape Town Convivium of Slow Foods has established the Funa Foods Fund (Funa is an African word meaning needy) directed at upliftment. The projects we support are food-related, and motivated from within the community.

Aims |  The Future