Snail of Approval
Good, clean and fair food in your neighborhood.
The Slow Food Snail of Approval award is a community-based recognition given to food and beverage establishments that are pursuing and practicing Slow Food values in their business. More than a mark of great taste, the Snail of Approval honors businesses that make real commitments — to the environment, local communities, employees and purveyors, and to equity and inclusion through Slow Food’s values of antiracism and anti-oppression.
Local Slow Food chapters, including Slow Food DC, grant the award based on a holistic evaluation in six key areas:
Sourcing
Environmental Impact
Cultural Connection
Community Involvement
Staff Support
Business Values
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.
CAN I NOMINATE AN ORGANIZATION?
Yes! You can nominate restaurants, farms, ranches, fisheries, cafes, bars, food trucks, breweries, wineries, caterers and value-added food producers to be considered for a Snail of Approval award. We’ll reach out to the organization directly and ask them to fill out an eligibility application. Nominate them below.
Nominations Are Currently Open until December 1st, 2025. Awardees will be announced in early Spring 2026. Please visit our 2026 Snail of Approval Awards page for more information.
HOW ARE APPLICANTS REVIEWED?
The Snail of Approval is awarded locally by Slow Food DC through a community-based review process.
Nomination Form — Complete the Slow Food DC nomination form to submit your recommendation.
Follow-Up — The Slow Food DC Board reviews all nominations and contacts nominees directly for additional information.
Evaluation — Nominees are evaluated using the six key areas listed above.
Selection — Final awardees are chosen and notified ahead of the annual announcement.
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 AWARD?
Snail of Approval awardees can expect:
Snail of Approval decal to be displayed at their place of business;
A Snail of Approval digital 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?
Unlike typical restaurant awards that focus solely on taste or trend, the Snail of Approval celebrates the deeper story — the values, people, and practices behind the plate.
It is a grassroots award administered by local Slow Food leaders, which means recipients join a supportive community of like-minded peers dedicated to food that is good for people, good for the planet, and rooted in place.
Slow Food DC doesn’t just celebrate excellence in food — we uplift those who:
Practice sustainability every day,
Build meaningful community connections, and
Honor and preserve cultural food traditions through local sourcing and shared values.
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.
