What’s that funky perfume you’re smelling? No, it’s not socks or Mary Jane. It’s white truffle season, and local restaurants are ready to shave them with abandon over your plate. Make it rain! Here are a few places where you can get your fix (don’t forget your credit card).
~ACQUERELLO~ always does a great job with showcasing truffles. This year chefs Suzette Gresham-Tognetti and Mark Pensa are offering dishes like risotto with Parmesan and shaved white truffles, plus a new dessert: white truffle gelato, cocoa crumb, and shaved Valrhona dark chocolate truffle.
~PERBACCO~ kicks off its annual truffle celebration on Wednesday November 6th (through November 23rd). Every dish will be served à la carte with three grams of truffles shaved tableside. Boom. Dishes include: insalata di carne cruda all’albese (tartare of veal scented with garlic and Langhe hazelnuts); sformatino di topinambour (Jerusalem artichoke custard with Castelmagno fonduta); and the classic dish of tajarin (hand-cut tagliatelle with prosciutto di San Daniele and a 63°C hen egg).
~PALIO D’ASTI~ will be serving its annual truffle dinner from November 11th-16th. The special five-course prix-fixe menu is $98 per person; with Italian wine pairings available for $55. Some of the dishes include gnocchi fritti (lightly fried potato pillows), risotto con tartufi bianchi, and grilled filet mignon in white truffle demi-glace.
On Tuesday November 12th, ~SPRUCE~ is hosting a white truffle dinner at 6:30pm, with some very special wine pairings. $250, exclusive of tax and gratuity.
~DELFINA~ is hosting its annual truffle dinners from Monday November 18th-Thursday November 21st; look for a special à la carte menu of classic dishes that pair well with truffles.
~POGGIO~ is hosting its Festa di Tartufo—10 days of white truffles—starting on Thursday November 14th. Dishes include carne crudo, day boat scallops with sunchoke purée, and risotto with lobster.
~OLIVETO~ celebrates truffle season in style. This year, its truffle dinners will run from Tuesday November 19th-Friday November 22nd (menu forthcoming).
The recently opened DESCO in Old Oakland is serving some “tartufo bianco” menu items, like uovo al tartufo, for $55, and raviolo all’uovo, a large raviolo with egg yolk, ricotta, and tartufo bianco for $60. 499 9th St., Washington St., Oakland, 510-663-9000.
Chef-owner Donato Scotti is also offering a four-course “tartufo bianco” tasting menu at his restaurant DONATO ENOTECA in Redwood City for $195. 1041 Middlefield Rd., Redwood City, 650-701-1000.
White truffles. Flickr photo from Erika Kerekes.
