Hello Monaco magazine Winter 2018 - issue HM02 | Page 77

fine dining activity – a veritable pandemonium – drawing crowds from Monaco, France, Italy and all around the globe. The Fair is a blazing attack on the senses, with a kaleidoscope of shapes and colours, aromatic delights, and heaven for the taste-buds. Myriads of white truffle stalls await you. The «perfume» is intoxicating. Just imagine hundreds of white truffles all under one dome. It will be for certain the most intense white truffle aroma you will ever experience. Meander among a potpourri of additional delicacies such as Barolo wine, grappa, cheese from Bra, tajarin pasta, salamis, desserts, exquisite chocolate creations, mushrooms of every variety and, not to be missed, the famous hazelnuts which make up the Ferrero chocolate empire. And there is still more... chestnuts for roasting from Cuneo. Savour a range of food delicacies in the restaurant arena – tempt yourself with shaved white truffles over scrambled eggs, carne cruda (veal tartare), or a simple tajarin pasta with butter. By 8pm the Fair is winding down and as evening descends there is another fabulous dining experience – perhaps at Piazza duomo in the centre of Alba. Owner Bruno Ceretto says: «the dishes should be beautiful, accentuated by their perfume; the palate is just a confirmation. When the dish is finished, it should always leave you with the desire to eat a little more. Only with yearning can there be real pleasure: there is always a small gap that cannot be filled, as in love». «From the Sublime to the ridiculous – well let’s call it Pampered Sublime» I f your idea of a good truffle hunt is searching for the telephone number to book a table at a Michelin star restaurant in Monte Carlo, why not? One day, waxing enthusiastically to a friend about the prospect of hiking through the woods with the trifulau and his dog, then back to the «farmhouse» shirtsleeves up helping prepare the feast to come, my friend said: «why would I bother to do all that when I can jump in the Rolls and dine at Louis Quinze?» She does have a point. In Monaco we are spoiled for choice - all we have to do is triangulate between Chez Bruno in Lourges, Truffle Gourmet in Place d’Armes and Louis Quinze — never mind Polpettos and more than a handful of other fine dining establishments. S o with money no object and Elon Musk’s hypersonic plane at our disposal, let’s see where in the world we wish to dine tonight and what is on the menu: — Monte Carlo (Louis Quinze) Scallops from Dieppe with chestnuts, watercress soup and freshly grated white truffles from Alba — Paris (Maison de la Truffe) Poached chicken eggs, Perigueux sauce and Alba white truffle — London (Little Social) Jerusalem artichoke risotto with white truffle — New York (Babbo) Duck egg sunny-side up with Guanciale and white truffles — Dubai (Tartufi and friends) Smoked salmon, sliced sashimi style, white truffle salt, mixed salad and fresh white truffle — Hong Kong (Sabatini) Beef tenderloin carpaccio with rucola and Asagio cheese topped with shaved white truffles © upload.wikimedia.org — Tokyo (Kawamura) Sea urchin pasta with sliced white truffle / and white truffle ice cream for dessert. As for me, I will head for the woods and admire Amadeo as he wags his tail furiously unearthing another white diamond for his beloved master, Luigi. This simple authenticity warms my soul. So instead of three Michelin stars, I will choose a heavenly feast made by Larissa, warming myself by a roaring fire, feasting on six courses each topped with shaved truffle, good company and a glass (or two or three!) of Barolo. It will then all be followed by a glass of Grappa or Limoncello. What is your style of hunt, I wonder? m Truffle Hunting - Luigi Castino, Azienda Castino www.castino.it International White Truffle Fair in Alba – www.fieradeltartufo.org Tourist Information m Alba [email protected] T: +39.0173.35833 m Piemonte www.welcomepiemonte.it m Asti www.astiturismo.it Where to stay: m In Neive - Borgese Camera and Suites www.hotelborgeseneive.com m In Alba - La Casa Di Cocca, Via Mazzini 2, Alba; T: +39 340 775 9609 m In Castiglione - Villa Gremi www.villagremi.it m In Vinchio - CA d ‘Rot www.cadrot.it Where to Eat: m Piazza Duomo www.piazzaduomoalba.it m l’Osteria del Teatro, Via Govone Generale, Alba; T: +39 0173 34231 m AlbergoMongalletto, Via Priocca, Castellinaldo; T: +39 0173 213251 m La Briccola, Via Farinetti, Diano d’Alba; T: +39 0173 468513 m Ristorante al Castello, Via del Castello, Grinzane Cavour; T: +39 0173 262172 «I will head for the woods and admire Amadeo as he wags his tail furiously unearthing another white diamond for his beloved master Luigi.» Hello Monaco – Winter 2018 / 75