Carlo Petrini Receives the Rabelais Award
The François Rabelais prize will be awarded to Carlo Petrini, the founder of the Slow Food movement, on 4 December, following previous winners, Massimo Montanari and Michel Guérard.
Photo source: Cooking with Sheridan
The
prize rewards "a person for his work in the service of the enhancement of
the cultural heritage of food in France or in the world", which Carlo
Petrini works at daily. He is an "unstoppable protagonist of good-eating
and key figure in the fight against the industrialization of food" said
Philippe Gombert, president of Relais & Châteaux, "it's an honor for
us to give him the Rabelais Prize."
Speaking
of the award, Carlo Petrini commented: "it is an honor to receive this
award and we all have the opportunity, in this crucial moment for the future of
the planet, to take concrete action to defend agro-food biodiversity and to
fight against global warming. Chefs can play an important role. Previously,
they were the ambassadors of their lands and now it is time to take action and
become protagonists of the awareness and commitment of citizens to change
consumption habits. and to support a truly sustainable production. "
The
Slow Food Foundation, which fights for "good, clean and fair food",
was founded in Rome in 1986 in response to the opening of a fast food
restaurant. Through this association, Carlo Petrini, journalist, sociologist
and Italian culinary critic, wishes to rediscover the culinary pleasures and
offer the status of World Heritage to food and quality wines.
Today,
Slow Food, partner of Relais &
Châteaux in France, has 100,000 members and is present in more than 160
countries. The movement also launched the Cookers Alliance project, which
brings together all chefs committed to simple promises: local, good, fair and
clean products and direct and lasting relationships with producers.
By FDL