Truffle Mania

White truffle-topped tortino from Farina.

~WHITE TRUFFLE SEASON~ is in full effecty wecty, and it’s reportedly a good year with cheaper prices, cheers to that. (I wish I could make my tablehopper column scratch ‘n’ sniff, wouldn’t that be cool?) I have rounded up a few restaurants offering special menus this week in honor of the season.

Acquerello is doing a special menu from Tuesday November 18th–26th, offering several dishes like poached duck egg on creamy leeks with shaved white truffle, rich egg tagliolini with burro fuso and shaved white truffle, and risotto Carnaroli with a hint of Parmigiano Reggiano and white truffle. There is also a special truffle tasting menu during that time for $190. 1722 Sacramento St. at Polk, 415-567-5432.

Perbacco is doing “Four Nights of Tartufi Bianchi,” from Tuesday November 18th–21st. During these four evenings, executive chef Staffan Terje will offer special à  la carte dishes during dinner service. White truffles will be offered by the gram, shaved over dishes that may include local porcini trifolati with a sunny-side-up duck egg, hand-cut tajarin with veal polpettine, or risotto in bianco finished with Castelmagno cheese. 230 California St. at Battery, 415-955-0663.

Oliveto is running their special truffle menu from Tuesday November 18th–21st (please note Friday night is sold out). It’s also when Oliveto runs their mushroom dinner, too. All I can say is check out these menu items: pan de mie crostini with wild snails, wild mushrooms, and leeks; warm salad of lamb sweetbreads, artichokes, cauliflower, and black truffles; and polentina of Savoy cabbage and leeks with polpettine of McGruder Ranch milk-fed vitello tongue, jowls, and pork liver. Whoa! The truffle dinners are great to pair with special wines, so Oliveto is offering a unique list of wines by the glass for the truffle dinners, and verticals of moderately priced and aged Barolos and Barbarescos. A special corkage fee of $25 will apply during those nights. 5655 College Ave., Oakland, 510-547-5356.

Truffle Mania
Tue. Nov 18th–Wed. Nov. 26th, 2008

Various locations