Food: Slowin’ it Down and Playin’ it Safe

If you ever catch yourself whining about living in Beijing, the food supply’s probably not too far behind your pollution woes. This week, you’ll have a couple chances to right that wrong, starting with Slow Food Saturday tomorrow and a food safety seminar on Wednesday.

The third annual Slow Food Saturday takes place tomorrow, Sep 22, at the Schoolhouse at Mutianyu and its surrounding environs. A shuttle bus will be leaving from the Beijing Trek Store at 8.30am for those who want a ride from the city.

Once you arrive at the Schoolhouse (about 10am), there’ll be a chestnut harvest class, an orchard walk, lunch cooking demos, tofu-making and honeybee-cultivating demonstrations and more. Events will take place in four villages around the area, with shuttle buses running between the villages as well as bikes for rent.

You’ll need to register for the shuttle, the classes and demos, and I believe you may even need to reserve ahead of time for a bike, so be sure to check out the Slow Food Saturday website for more details. You can also email info@slowfoodsaturday.org to get in contact with the organizers. Registration fees run from RMB 130-240 depending on shuttle use and membership status.

Next Wednesday, Sep 26, Bencham, Britcham and Austcham team up to bring you a useful seminar: Shopping Safe – What you need to know about your food in China. Experts will explain what food labels here really tell us, as well as what international vs. Chinese processors do to ensure safety. The seminar runs 4-6pm at the Westin Chaoyang Beijing, and costs RMB 180 for Bencham, Britcham and Austcham members, RMB 300 for non-members. Email Julien Derouaux at events-bj@bencham.org before September 25 to register.

Eat safe out there.

Photo: Courtesy of Slow Food Saturday