Auckland butcher awarded inaugural Slow Food Snail

Fourteen Auckland region food businesses became New Zealand’s first to be awarded the Slow Food “Snail of Approval”, at an event held last Tuesday evening. A huge congratulations to A Lady Butcher – Hannah Miller Childs who was amongst these inaugural and deserving recipients.

The Slow Food movement aims to change the world through food and celebrates the love of food cultures, rituals, and traditions. Slow Food Auckland Committee Member Anutosh Cusack says ‘The internationally recognised Snail of Approval programme promotes and celebrates locally grown and produced food that is good, clean and fair and the people who make it happen.

But what is good, clean fair food? - Good - seasonal, local, quality, flavoursome and healthy food. Clean - produced sustainably with low impact on the environment.  And Fair ensures accessible prices for consumers and fair conditions and pay for producers and staff.

“By recognising their intent, passion and effort rather than perfection, the Snail of Approval is intended to inspire all types of food businesses to embrace Slow Food principles,” says Ms Cusack.

First time recipient, Hannah Miller Childs says “I have always been passionate about nose-to-tail cookery – any waste is an insult to the animal. I also make sure the mileage on those cuts is minimal: Everything I do is 100 per cent New Zealand. I feel really strongly that New Zealand has some of the best produce in the world. I just want to highlight that stuff. And the Snail is a great recognition of our philosophy”

Other meaty finalists included the Hangi Master, Rewi Spraggon and Cazador restaurant in Dominion Rd. The range of other worthy food businesses and organisations awarded with the Slow Snail was diverse and can be viewed here. Ms Cusack notes that launching the Snail of Approval in Auckland is the first step to rolling it out in other regions across Aotearoa.

“Many food-related businesses have been hammered by Covid lockdowns. The Snail of Approval will help to support thriving local economies by fairly rewarding those who earn their living from growing, making, and serving food,” she says.

To find out more about the Slow Food ‘Snail of Approval’ and the nomination process contact Penny Cusack – slowfoodauckland@gmail.com.