WHO SHOULD APPLY?
Any business or organization producing and/or offering food for public consumption who is also pursuing and practicing the Slow Food values of good, clean, fair food for all. This includes restaurants, bars, farms, distilleries, breweries, wineries, fisheries, cafes, food trucks, caterers, markets, and value-added food producers.
When the nomination period is open, anyone can recommend a food or beverage provider serving the National Capital Region that supports good, clean, and fair food in our area. This includes customers, friends, owners, and employees.
* Nominations will remain open until the end of October, 2023. Awards are anticipated to be announced in Spring 2023.
HOW ARE APPLICANTS REVIEWED?
The Snail of Approval is awarded locally by Slow Food DC. The process includes completing:
The Slow Food DC Board will vet all nominations and follow up with nominees directly with a separate set of questions. When nominating a local business, please be sure to let them know; nominees that fail to respond to requests for additional information will be disqualified.
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF THE SNAIL OF APPROVAL AWRD?
Snail of Approval awardees can expect:
Snail of Approval decal(s) to be displayed at their place of business;
A Snail of Approval icon for inclusion on websites, menus, newsletters;
National and local recognition with a listing in the national Snail of Approval directory on the Slow Food DC and Slow Food USA national websites.
Opportunities to partner with Slow Food DC and Slow Food USA on events and media.
HOW IS THE SNAIL OF APPROVAL DIFFERENT FROM OTHER AWARDS?
The Snail of Approval is a grassroots award administered by local Slow Food chapter leaders. This means that awardees can build long lasting relationships with other like-minded awardees and supporters around the philosophy of good, clean, fair food for all.
Slow Food DC does not just award for excellent food (although we love delicious food) — we care about sustainable practices, the business’ or organization’s relationship with the community, and commitment to the supporting cultural connections through local sourcing.
Award Criteria
Good.
Good food is fundamental: food must taste good and be good for us. This includes:the freshness, seasonality, regionality, and wholesomeness of ingredients;
the care and craft with which the ingredients are handled;
the health of consumers;
and the extent to which cultural heritage and/or biodiversity is preserved.
Clean.
Clean food is produced in a manner that does not harm the environment, animal welfare, or our health. This includes:the conservation of natural resources and mitigation of climate change;
the quality of life of consumers, producers, and their neighbors;
the welfare of animals, including farm animals and wildlife;
and the employment of practices that are appropriate for the area in question.
Fair.
Fair food means ensuring accessible prices for consumers, as well as fair conditions and pay for small-scale producers. This includes:the employment of fair labor practices and fair sourcing;
fostering a work environment that promotes diversity, and that is safe for people of all races, ethnicities, gender identities, and sexualities;
the fair compensation of producers, laborers, distributors, and others in the food system;
and ensuring that physical, financial, and educational barriers do not inhibit the availability of high quality and culturally appropriate food to all.
Check out the list of our Snail of Approval winners!
What is the Snail of Approval?
The Slow Food Snail of Approval award is a recognition given to food and beverage establishments that are pursuing and practicing Slow Food values in their business. This is more than about making good food — it’s about making commitments to the environment, local communities, employees and purveyors, and our core values of antiracism and anti-oppression.
The Snail of Approval award is given by local chapters based on evaluations focused on the following six areas: sourcing, environmental impact, cultural connection, community involvement, staff support, and business values.