For many of us, one of the highlights of winter is truffles. But it wasn’t always so in Australia. On 18 June 1999 Duncan Garvey harvested Australia’s first Perigord black truffle in Tasmania. Since then truffles have also been cultivated in NSW, ACT, WA, SA, Queensland, Victoria and New Zealand. While some people are captivated by the funky, earthy aroma from the first whiff, others take a while to understand the allure. Either way, it’s hard to resist the theatre of a waiter opening a jar containing a small black nugget to allow diners to inhale the scent, before serving it tableside using a special truffle shaver. At around $2,500/kg, truffles are an indulgence, but a little goes a long way and a small one (enough for 6-8 people) only costs around $120 (with delivery) from Fish River Truffles near Bathurst (use code Roberta20 to save 20%); a great way to add a special touch to your next dinner party. To make the most of truffles, keep it simple and remember they need warmth and fat to bring out their aroma and flavour. This easy dish of fettuccine with black truffle ticks all the boxes. As for a wine match, I love the synergy between truffles’ earthiness and an elegant pinot noir, such as those from Curly Flat in Victoria’s Macedon Ranges.
Serves 6 as a starter
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