Overview
You've probably had them in oil or salt form, and dusted over everything from potatoes to pasta and steak, but now is your chance to sample the real thing as a mini truffle festival touches down in the central city.
Truffles are one of the most expensive things in the world to eat, other than pure gold leaf. Prices for the fungi which is playfully called the 'diamond of the kitchen' range in NZ from $3000-9000 per kilogram. Special dogs are even employed to sniff out the delicious mystery — which are found underground surrounding the roots of a host tree.
For two weeks in July, Britomart restaurant Oaken will celebrate all things truffle across a range of dining options. Customers coming through the all-day eatery from July 17-30 will be able to experience regional, national and international truffle varieties via a lunch and dinner menu, four Chef's Tables events and a Wine Series event.
The dedicated truffle menu includes mouthwatering dishes like: truffled parmesan popcorn, burrata salad with truffle soil and hazelnut, crostini with three mushroom and truffle salsa, and truffled brie.
The Chef's Table events will give diners an interactive experience with Oaken's Executive Chef Sam Campbell across two courses using truffle from Kings Truffles and cheese from NZ Cheese. Four dates have been set aside for the experience.
The Wine Series will take place on Wednesday 19 July. Four truffle-heavy courses will be matched with four Pegasus Bay wines. Diners can expect: potato blini with mascarpone whipped cauliflower and truffle, truffle and hazelnut linguine with truffle butter, and truffle honey ice cream.
Oaken's Truffle Festival will take place from July 17-30. To book for the Chef's Table and Wine Series events, email hello@oaken.co.nz.