Posted on Fri, 13 May 2011
Truffle Season in Perth?
I didn’t know Australia had truffles! Did you? Apparently they do! Enough to hold an Annual Truffle Festival in Mundaring, 45 minutes from the city of Perth. So if you’re love this fancy fungus and happen to be in Perth end of July, pen down the dates 30-31 July. That’s when the festival – into its 5th year – takes place with lots of gourmet, truffle and wine related activities.
This fungal weekend will feature renowned chefs and food personalities like Michelin-starred chef Alain Fabregues, owner of The Loose Box restaurant and creator of the Mundaring Truffle Festival concept; and Stephanie Alexander, cookbook author and restaurateur. Activities include Long Table Truffle Luncheon each day paired with Watershed Premium Wines, a three-chef Truffle Masterclass with tastings and wines; the Food Piazza where you can buy truffle-themed dishes by top chefs; Perth Hills Wine Show, a Gourmet Produce Market and a Fresh Truffle Market in the traditional European ambience with Oak Valley Truffles and Great Southern Truffle producers, and more.
Beyond the festival weekend, Western Australia’s truffle season takes place 1 June to 14 August. During this period, you can try your hand at truffle hunting. Manjimup Wine and Truffle Company, the largest truffle producer in the Southern Hemisphere, will conduct two-and-a-half-hour truffle hunts using trained dogs during this season. Tickets cost A$95 per person and protective clothing is provided.
Before you diss it as ‘not the real thing’, truffles from here are exported to 14 countries including Singapore. It also supplies the truffles at restaurants like Vue Du Monde in Melbourne and the French Laundry in the Napa Valley.
Good to know: Entry tickets are price at A$30.00, and includes a range of free venues at the Festival, tastings and demonstrations, truffle dog demonstrations, entertainment, wine tasting glass and wine tastings. The Long Table Lunch Package costs A$149. Details: www.mundaringtrufflefestival.com
