I am trying to prepare for a discussion tonight at the University of Gastronomic Sciences in Pollenzo, Italy. I am going to talk about sustainability at a university created by Slow Food. The Slow Food Movement is probably the one of the most important ideas of our time. If you have been to, read about or heard of a farmer's market or a seasonal restaurant, you have likely been influenced by someone involved with Slow Food. Not to mention that the building I am going to be in includes Roman ruins in its cellar. I am thinking this is both very cool and kind of a big deal.

Struggling to find the right words I happily stumbled upon  a new post at the fantastic blog,  Butter on the Endive. Owen Lightly regularly hosts guest contributors and recently had David Zilber of The Healthy Butcher in Toronto, sharing his insights. David writes, "Since I’ve gotten off of the hot lines of fine dining kitchens and into the giant walk in coolers of butcher shops, I’ve learned something about food that I wouldn’t have been able to get anywhere else. The shop is small enough that we get to visit and interact with our farmers. We can trace every cow that comes into our shop down to the farm, the date of birth, hell, even its name. We get to find out about how much rain our turkey farmer had that summer, and how often her birds got to go out and play. We hear the stories of our pig farmer wrangling his hogs, and the hilarious fights they put up. Now, more than ever before, I have a connection, respect and appreciation for the food I consume. There is piece of mind in the knowledge that the food on your plate was raised ethically, lived comfortably, and was treated with respect. Beyond the catch phrases, the trendiness, and the press, I’m just happy to be a part of something wholesome - a sustainable system where the end customer can meet the farmer if they want, and where they can hear those stories just like myself. A lot of people might tell you not to let your job become your life, but when you live to eat, and are in a position like myself, that tends to be one very blurry, delicious line."

Bravo, David. Connecting with the land, appreciating farmers and putting ideas into action is what sustainability is about.

Notes and excerpts from tonight's talk to follow. Wish me luck!