Slow Food Nation, Fast
Bite-size bulletins from the Biggest Artisanal Food Event in the U.S.
What should a cheese-lover do at Slow Food Nation? What if you're there on a date weekend? Or you just want to get your buzz on? The schedule can be pretty overwhelming, so we've broken the event down into seven personalized itineraries to make navigating it easier. Whether you're obsessed with pork or policy, freebies or cheese, we've got a plan for you.
All locations are in San Francisco unless otherwise noted.
Taste Workshops
American Artisan Cheeses and Microbrews: Matt Jennings of Farmstead Inc. leads this tasting.
Saturday, August 30, 2-3 p.m.
Fort Mason Center, Building C, Room 370
SOLD OUT
Celebrating American Raw Milk Cheese: Learn about the differences between (and controversy over) raw- and pasteurized-milk cheeses at this six-cheese tasting.
Saturday, August 30, 8-9 p.m.
Fort Mason Center, Building C, Room 370
Taste Pavilions
Bread, Cheese, and Wine:
Take a walk through the Taste Pavilions, information-packed areas about different types of foods, each with a unique design, tasting flights, and snacks.
Sunday, August 31, 11 a.m.-3 p.m.
Fort Mason Center/Festival Pavilion
Slow Dinner
Slow Food Starlight Supper benefiting the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy:
Cheese is all over this meal, from the salumi, grilled fig, and ricotta bruschetta to the late-summer berry pudding with mascarpone.
Sunday, August 31, 6 p.m. reception, 7 p.m. dinner
Americano Restaurant & Bar, 8 Mission Street
Slow Food Rocks
Gnarls Barkley, Ozomatli, New Pornographers, Medeski Martin and Wood:
Visit day one of Slow Food Nation's two-day concert, then cut out a little early and head to the Taste Pavilions.
Saturday, August 30, 11 a.m.-7 p.m.
Great Meadow at Fort Mason Center
Taste Pavilions
Saturday, August 30, 5-9 p.m.
Fort Mason Center/Festival Pavilion
Taste Workshop
Exploring Coffee and Chocolate Pairings:
James Freeman from Blue Bottle Coffee and Seneca Klassen from Bittersweet Café consider how java and cacao taste together.
Sunday, August 31, 10-11 a.m.
Fort Mason Center, Building C, Room 370
SOLD OUT
Water Stations
Free filtered water: Hydrate after the coffee and chocolate tasting.
Sunday, August 31, 9 a.m.-6 p.m.
Civic Center and Fort Mason Center
Slow Dinner
Party and fund-raiser for the Center for Environmental Health and the Center for Food Safety:
This event starts with drinks at the new Latin cocktail lounge Pisco, then heads next door to Destino for a four-course dinner with paired wines.
Sunday, August 31, cocktails 5:30-7 p.m., dinner 7:30 p.m.
Pisco Latin Lounge, 1817 Market Street, and Destino, 1815 Market Street
Slow Breakfast
The Sunny Side Café and Green Chamber of Commerce:
Start the day with goat cheese and honey pancakes; rockfish Benedict; a savory French toast sandwich with mushrooms, greens, garlic-roasted tomatoes, and lobster sauce; or strawberry French toast.
Friday, August 29, 9 a.m.
Sunny Side Café, 1499 Solano Avenue, Albany
SOLD OUT
Slow Journey
Half Moon Bay Coastal Pleasures:
Learn about California's oldest fishing fleet, visit farms, and eat lunch in the loft of a historic barn.
Saturday, August 30, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
Meet at 8:45 a.m. at Civic Center Slow Food Nation Welcome Center at Larkin and Grove--bus leaves from the steps of the Bill Graham Civic Auditorium
SOLD OUT
Taste Pavilions
Ice Cream, Honey & Preserves, and Tea.
Sunday, August 31, 6-9 p.m.
Fort Mason Center/Festival Pavilion
Marketplace
SFN Marketplace:
Stroll through Civic Center and check out the farmers' market, food kiosks, and more.
Friday, August 29, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
Civic Center Plaza
Victory Garden
Ornamental edible garden:
Take a walk around the garden.
Saturday, August 30, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
Civic Center Plaza
Soap Box
Soap Box:
While you check out the Victory Garden, catch one of the free speakers (who range from CHOW honey obsessive Serge Labesque to peach farmer Mas Masumoto) giving short speeches.
Saturday, August 30, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
Slow Food Nation Victory Garden
Slow Arts
Slow: Life in a Tuscan Town:
Stop by this free exhibit, a collection of Douglas Gayeton's film and photography work.
Saturday, August 30, noon-4 p.m.
Museo ItaloAmericano, Fort Mason Center, Building C
Slow Hike
Sierra Club Hike: San Francisco to Sausalito via Marin Headlands:
A free, moderately strenuous 11- to 12-mile hike; BYO lunch.
Monday, September 1, 10 a.m.-7 p.m.
Meet at Justin Herman Plaza (Embarcadero Center), by the Hyatt Regency stairway
Commonwealth Club Panels
The Centralization of Our Food System:
Panelists discuss how centralization affects the economy of food, from production to consumption.
Thursday, August 14, 5:30 p.m. reception, 6 p.m. program
Blue Room at the Commonwealth Club, 595 Market Street, Second Floor
Building a Slow Food Nation:
Panelists discuss their ideas about how to construct a better food system.
Thursday, August 21, 5:30 p.m. reception, 6 p.m. program
Blue Room at the Commonwealth Club, 595 Market Street, Second Floor
Food Bill Declaration
Petition Launch for a New Vision for Agriculture and Food Policy for the 21st Century:
A petition calling for better food and agriculture policies will be read and unveiled for signing.
Thursday, August 28, 5-6 p.m.
Civic Center Plaza/Slow Food Nation Victory Garden
Food for Thought
Climate Change and Food:Wes Jackson, author and president/founder of the Land Institute, speaks.
Saturday, August 30, noon-1:30 p.m.
Herbst Theatre, 401 Van Ness Avenue
Taste Workshop
Eat It to Save It, Slow Food USA's Ark of Taste:
Ark of Taste chair Poppy Tooker leads the workshop and explains how eating endangered foods can help promote and preserve them. Taste heritage peaches, hogs, shellfish, and more.
Sunday, August 31, 4-5 p.m.
Fort Mason Center, Building C, Room 370
SOLD OUT
Taste Pavilions
Native Foods and Fish.
Sunday, August 31, 6-9 p.m.
Fort Mason Center/Festival Pavilion
Taste Pavilions
Wine, Cheese, and Charcuterie.
Saturday, August 30, 11 a.m.-3 p.m.
Fort Mason Center/Festival Pavilion
Taste Workshops
Slow Wine & Food Pairings:
Sip some appellation reds from La Jota Vineyard paired with regional food bites.
Saturday, August 30, 6-7 p.m.
Fort Mason Center, Building C, Room 362
Coro Mendocino Wines & Organic Cheeses: Sip and taste.
Saturday, August 30, 8-9 p.m.
Fort Mason Center, Building C, Room 362
Mendocino Pinot Noir:
Discuss the effects of the region's various climates, soils, and topography on different wines.
Sunday, August 31, 2-3 p.m.
Fort Mason Center, Building C, Room 362
Biodynamic Wines:
Learn all about them at this tasting and discussion.
Sunday, August 31, 6-7 p.m.
Fort Mason Center, Building C, Room 362
Marketplace
SFN Marketplace:
Stop by the Fatted Calf kiosk for sausages and cured meats.
Friday, August 29, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
Civic Center Plaza
Slow Dinner
Woodward's Garden and Animal Welfare Approved:
Woodward's Garden hosts a fundraiser for Animal Welfare Approved, featuring pork from Niman Ranch. Paul Willis of Niman Ranch and Will Harris of White Oak Pastures share their experiences in practicing humane husbandry. Fifteen percent of every ticket sold benefits the Animal Welfare Approved program.
Sunday, August 31, reception 5:30-6:30 p.m., dinner 6:30 p.m.
Woodward's Garden, 1700 Mission Street
Taste Workshops
The Apple in the Pig's Mouth:
Taste three varieties of prosciutto paired with ciders from around the country. Chef and food writer Kurt Michael Friese moderates.
Saturday, August 30, noon-1 p.m.
Fort Mason Center, Building C, Room 370
SOLD OUT
Heritage Pork and Sparkling Mead:
Enjoy another pairing at this workshop led by Eliza MacLean, hog breeder and conservationist; Gordon Hull, mead maker; and Chef Joe Bonaparte.
Saturday, August 30, 4-5 p.m.
Fort Mason Center, Building C, Room 370
SOLD OUT
Slow Sips & Charcuterie Snacking:
Sample drinks and vittles while Sam Edwards of the Virginia Traditions smokehouses; Kenneth Rochford of Medlock Ames; and Mark Pastore, co-owner of Incanto and Boccalone, discuss wine and charcuterie.
Sunday, August 31, 6-7 p.m.
Fort Mason Center, Building C, Room 370
Taste Pavilions
Charcuterie, Pickles and Chutney, Bread, and Beer.
Sunday, August 31, 11 a.m.-3 p.m.
Fort Mason Center/Festival Pavilion
