Sonoran Desert Scenery (photo by Ditte Lokon)

Slow Food Tucson will be presenting its 4th Annual Food and Film Festival from January 8th through the 11th in 2009. Classic food films, meals at premiere restaurants, guest speakers, and new food film screenings will be featured.

Classic Films & New Films

This year’s program includes three classic food films:

• “Ratatouille” - The animated Academy Award winner in which a rat (literally, not figuratively) teams up with a kitchen boy, who becomes a celebrated chef with hilarious consequences along the way.

• “Dinner Rush” - Starring Danny Aiello as a former bookie and owner of a hot spot Italian restaurant in New York, who faces unwelcome mobsters trying to muscle their way into the business. Mouth watering dishes are prepared in the kitchen and an all star cast includes John Corbett ("My Big Fat Greek Wedding") & Sandra Bernhard. For mature audiences: R rated: for language, some violence & sexuality.

• “On the Trail with Miss Snail Pail” - World Premiere, documentary short (12 minutes). A snail "collector" pursues her hobby & shares her interest and recipes. Director: Greg Young.

• “Eating Alaska” - Southwest Premiere, feature documentary (60 minutes). An exploration of food politics (not Vice Presidential) from our 49th state from an ex-vegetarian & city dweller, who goes north and marries a commercial fisherman, environmental activist and deer hunter. Share an adventure of regional food traditions, vegan cooking & home economic classes, natives & non-natives trying to find balance in the 21st century. Director: Ellen Frankenstein.

• “Bottle Shock” - A feature film, based on the true story of the celebrated blind 1976 wine tasting competition in which French judges were shocked to have awarded top honors to wines made in California. The story follows the trials, tribulations and passion of a family that struggles for recognition in the world of wine.

And there will be many more fine films to enjoy!

Culinary Events

The culinary events include an opening night dinner at Primo Restaurant at the JW Marriott, Star Pass. Pork saltimbocca with roasted garlic, grilled swordfish & chicken alla Milanese, accompanied with wine. It starts at 6:00 p.m. on Thursday, January 8th, and will be followed by the screening of “Ratatouille” described above.

From 5:00 to 7:30 p.m. on Friday, January 9th guests will enjoy Cuvee Bistro's three course French-inspired menu beginning with roasted beet salad with asparagus & goat cheese vinaigrette; then Champagne poached scallops & peers with whipped potatoes & ratatouille; ending with chocolate truffle set in vanilla creme Anglaise with raspberries. Limited to 40 people.

On Saturday morning at 11:00 a.m. guests will sit down to Brunch at Vin Tabla: Poached eggs served with roasted salmon & sautee spinach & prosciutto chips; second course: a spiced pumpkin waffle with caramelized apples, toasted pecans & whipped ginger cream. Wine pairings with each course, beginning with an extra dry Prosecco. Limited to 40 people.

The Gala Closing Brunch will take place at 1:00 p.m. on Sunday. Chef Albert Hall, winner of Tucson's 2008 Iron Chef Competition, will feature locally raised Wagyu Beef with locally grown produce from Wilcox & wines produced at the Keeling-Schaeffer Vineyards, out near the Chiricahua National Monument. The "Best of the Best" Tucson Slow Food & Film audience award will be presented to one of the nine new films screened during the festival.

Benefiting a Terrific Cause

Slow Food is a non-profit, eco-gastronomic organization that supports a biodiverse, sustainable food supply, local producers, heritage foodways, and rediscovery of the pleasures of the table. Carlo Petrini founded Slow Food in 1986 in response to the opening of a McDonald's in Rome's historic Piazza di Spagna.

Slow Food Tucson is affiliated with Slow Food USA, which supports Slow Food International, a worldwide movement with more than 80,000 members in 100 countries. Slow Food Tucson convivium was created in 1999 by Chef Barry Infuso, Director of the Culinary Arts Program at Pima Community College. Linda Berzok, vice-president, is author of the recently published "American Indian Food: Food in American History." Jashio Pei, secretary, is a reknowned Tucson artist. Bob Berzok, treasurer, is a member of the Williamstown, Massachussetts Film Festival board of directors.

More Info on the Event

For additional information go to the Festival's official web site: Slow Food Tucson