The slow food movement tries to change public opinion about food sustainability. Its name is a cheeky homage to the proliferation of fast food throughout the late 1980s. The movement is often symbolized by a snail, a creature that eats and moves extremely slowly. Slow food activists argue that by taking the time to produce high quality food locally, it is healthier, better for the environment and more sustainable.

A few weeks ago I had with me a bag of food from the farmers market that I had filled up from there on my way to work. Before leaving to go back home I shared some of the contents with a couple of my co-workers. A sample of delicious ground cherries, and a glance at those beautiful pumpkin-shaped bright white and purple eggplants which they had never seen before, both of which, of course, grow right here in the GTA. I also had never seen this type of eggplant until this past summer; they are an heirloom variety indigenous to Italy called Rosa Bianca. I've made stuffed eggplant from them, and the late-season bloomers were great for Baba Ghanoush.

Enlightened Events cordially invites you to ecoSUAVE 2009: "effortlessly gracious and green in a social manner" on February 21, 2009 from 8PM til Midnight. It is an event gathering over 300 young professionals interested in minimizing their environmental footprint together in one setting to socialize and share their thoughts and preferences on local and sustainable drinks and food. Only environmentally-friendly drinks and finger food will be served and information on GMO-free food as well as sustainable cultivation and production will be available.