Seasonal white truffles, prized for their pungent aroma and delicate flavour, hail from the Alba region of Piedmont in north-western Italy. Their harvest is extremely regulated, and they are hunted by specially trained dogs, growing on the roots of oak or hazelnut trees up to 10 centimetres under the ground. Although expensive, selling for over US$4,000 per kilo, they are not so decadent when it comes to your health, with 100 grams of freshly shaved, paper-thin white truffle clocking in at a mere 31 calories.
The white truffle season begins in October and is typically over by early December – so get ‘em while they’re hot!
Giacomo![]()
Elegant southern Italian newcomer Giacomo starts us off in style with Executive Chef Keith Yam’s creative à-la-carte white truffle specialities, so you can mix and match to your choosing – a nice option if you don’t want to go overboard with a full white truffle tasting menu. Each of the five dishes includes a generous portion of Alba white truffle – confit Taiyouran organic egg ($850), warm scampi ($880), homemade tagliolini ($880), Bresse chicken ($980) and white truffle gelato ($480).
G/F, Crowne Plaza Hong Kong Causeway Bay, 8 Leighton Road, Causeway Bay, 3980 3008 or 6425 4918 (WhatsApp), giacomo@cphongkong.com
Radical Chic![]()
This new fine-dining Italian restaurant atop International Commerce Centre is offering a decadent five-course white truffle degustation menu ($2,880/person) to herald the arrival of white truffle season in Italy. Wine pairings (+$880 or +$1,380) can be added for even more indulgence. The highlights of Executive Chef Andrea Tarini’s menu at Radical Chic include Japanese Omi A5 Wagyu raviolo “dumplings” crowned with white truffle shaved tableside, muscat grape-glazed venison blanketed with finely grated white truffle and – ending the meal with an aromatic bang – a dessert dubbed Truffle Hunt, made up of mascarpone mousse, vanilla cream and dacquoise covered with extra-dark chocolate, finished with white truffle shavings. We can almost smell the dishes from here...
101/F, ICC, 1 Austin Road West, TST, 3618 7880, book online
Pirata![]()
From 30 October until 27 November, Pirata’s white truffle weekend brunch ($698/person) sounds like a great way to get a taste of this Italian delicacy for an affordable price. The menu features a variety of sharing starters, white truffle tagliatelle, two mains (the eatery’s signature sliced flank steak and black cod, both served with creamy white truffle mashed potato) and a unique homemade gelato for dessert made with truffle olive oil and Alba white truffle. You can also pair the menu with a selection of wines from Piedmont (+$220). If brunch isn’t your thing but you still want to get all truffled up, there’s a white truffle dinner tasting menu ($680/person) on with the same wine-pairing add-on option.
29/F & 30/F, 239 Hennessy Road, Wanchai, 2887 0270, book online
DiVino Group![]()
With DiVino Group’s No Menu, No Limitations, No Rules concept, diners at its DiVino Patio, DiVino Wine Bar & Restaurant and Spasso portfolio of Italian restaurants can be as creative as they like with their white truffle dishes or they can play it safe by choosing from a selection of suggestions at each restaurant – be it potato and pumpkin soup with soft egg and white truffle shavings at DiVino Patio, DiVino Wine Bar’s spaghetti carbonara with guanciale, Italian egg, Pecorino cheese and white truffle or porcini-crusted Australian filet mignon with celery root cream, shaved foie gras and white truffle courtesy of Spasso. The dish prices change weekly based on the market value of the truffles.
DiVino Patio: Shop 11, 1/F, Brim 28, 28 Harbour Road, Wanchai, 2877 3552, book online
DiVino Wine Bar & Restaurant: 73 Wyndham Street, Central, 2167 8883, book online
Spasso: Shop G5–8, 12–17, G/F, Empire Centre, 68 Mody Road, TST East, 2730 8027, book online
Soil to Soul![]()
A unique addition to our white truffle top list this year, Soil to Soulalso plays tribute to the Alba white truffle with Executive Chef Gu Jin Kwang’s four special vegetarian dishes inspired by Korean temple cuisine. Available for ordering until mid-December, take your pick from asparagus with white truffle mashed potato ($428), royal mushroom and white truffle consommé ($338), carrot and zucchini noodles with white truffle ($398) and a dessert of deep-fried yam with white truffle grain syrup ($328). Each dish can be upgraded with additional white truffle for $128 per gram. We think that Soil to Soul offers a very innovative (and healthier) way to get your white truffle fix this year.
Shop 704, 7/F, K11 MUSEA, Victoria Dockside, 18 Salisbury Road, TST, 2389 9588, info@soiltosoul.hk
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