The Snail of Approval

Good, clean, fair food in Western washington!

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WE ARE NOW ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS JANUARY 1-31 FOR THE 2026 SEASON!

The Snail of Approval award is a recognition given to food and beverage establishments in western Washington that are pursuing and practicing Slow Food values in their business. Awardees are food producers who contribute to the quality, authenticity, and sustainability of our local foodways and are regarded as outstanding among peers.

Unlike other food awards, the Snail of Approval is always awarded locally and through the lens of a sustainable food system. The award is based on evaluations focused on six areas:

  • sourcing,

  • environmental impact,

  • cultural connection,

  • community involvement,

  • staff support, and

  • business values.

Our Goal

Our goal is to create nationwide awareness that recognizes the impact of vital food organizations. We can generate greater support for these important businesses by eating, participating, volunteering, patronizing, donating, and spreading the word.

Who Should Apply?

The Slow Food Seattle and Slow Food Greater Olympia chapters have joined together to increase our award area to include the following counties: Whatcom, Skagit, Snohomish, King, Pierce, Thurston, Mason, Lewis, and Grays Harbor.** We encourage applications from food producers in those counties who:

  • have been in business for at least one year,

  • food products must be publicly available, and

  • are pursuing and practicing Slow Food values of good, clean, and fair food for all.

This includes, but is not limited to restaurants, cafes, bakeries, caterers, coffee shops, food trucks, markets, farms, farm stands, ranches, fisheries, bars, breweries, wineries, distilleries, cooking schools, and value-added food producers+.

**If you are a business just outside these counties and are interested in applying, please email us info@slowfoodseattle.org

Here’s how it works

Step 1: Submit an application in January

  • We accept applications every year from January 1 to 31. Food producers must be in business for at least one year, and their products must be publicly available.

  • Our new application is more conversational and takes about 30-45 minutes to complete. It includes a combination of multiple-choice questions and short written responses — no formal essays — that give applicants an opportunity to highlight the work they’re doing and the values that guide it.

  • If you’d like to review the application before getting started, here is a preview.

  • When you’re ready, APPLY HERE.

Step 2: FOllow-up Process

  • In February, applicants will be contacted by a member of our Snail of Approval Committee to participate in a short 30-minute online follow-up interview. This is a great opportunity for us to get to know you and your good business practices a little better.

  • The committee uses a scorecard to guide the conversation. Here is an example SCORECARD we use for restaurants, bakeries, caterers, and food trucks.

  • Based on the criteria, the Snail of Approval Committee will recommend awardees to the Slow Food Seattle or Slow Food Greater Olympia board of directors for final approval.

Step 3: Award / recognition

By being awarded a Snail of Approval, you join a local and national network of like-minded food producers promoting a sustainable food system. As an award recipient, you will:

  • receive a letter of congratulations, a certificate, a Snail of Approval decal for your place of business, as well as digital assets for menus, signage, and other online platforms;

  • be featured in Slow Food’s newsletter, website, and social media platforms; and

  • gain national attention on Slow Food USA’s map and directory.

Make a Nomination

Do you have a favorite food producer who practices Slow Food values? Encourage them to apply or send us an email at info@slowfoodseattle.org with the business’s name, contact info, website (if applicable) and a short explanation of what your nominee is doing for our food community and how they best exemplify the beliefs and principles that embody Slow Food.

If you have any questions or would like more information, please email us at info@slowfoodseattle.org.