Slow Food conference heads to Bacolod

BIG THINGS are coming to Western Visayas: after Iloilo was declared a UNESCO City of Gastronomy in 2023, another city in the region gets another nod from the global food community. Bacolod City in Negros Occidental will host Slow Food's first regional food conference outside Europe, Terra Madre Asia and Pacific which will take place on Nov. 19 to 23.

- Joseph L. Garcia

Its parent conference, Terra Madre Salone del Gusto, is usually held in Turin, Italy, and the biennial conference attracts thousands around the world. In a statement, Slow Food said that this Asia-Pacific event is expected to welcome over 2,000 delegates from over 20 countries, including, Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Thailand, India, and Pacific Island nations.

"This milestone event marks the designation of Bacolod City as the Slow Food Hub in Asia and Center for Sustainable Gastronomy and Negros Occidental as the Organic Capital of the Philippines. Modeled after the long-running Terra Madre Salone del Gusto in Italy, this regional edition will highlight the culinary traditions and food systems of Asia-Pacific while connecting them to the wider global movement," said the statement.