Summer in Hong Kong is Australian black winter truffle season, and premium food distributor Waves Pacific has partnered with some of Hong Kong’s top restaurants – Belon, Arcane, Giando, Gia Trattoria, Town, 22 Ships, CIAK and Rhoda – to offer special truffle tasting menus that pay fitting tribute to the rare tuber otherwise known as the "black diamond”. [Note: the truffles are also available to buy through Waves Pacific. A truffle pairing guide will be provided upon request along with complimentary recipes made available by Waves Pacific and The Truffle & Wine Co in Western Australia.]
First up, we sampled meatless masterpieces at celebrated modern European eatery Arcane, prepared by Chef Shane Osborn, Foodie Forks 2017 Editors' Choice winner in the Food Hero category, for his commitment to clean, healthy eating and concern for his diners' dietary needs. On the back of his meat-free Monday tasting menu, it's unsurprising that Chef Osborn has created a completely vegetarian black winter truffle tasting menu ($808/person). From the simple but scrumptious truffle toastie, to the decadently comforting soft polenta with wild asparagus, charred corn, hazelnuts and truffle, to the flavourful and filling sautéed potato gnocchi with fresh mousserons, pine nut and spinach cream and shaved raw porcini, the chef's truffle tasting menu is is a competent culinary offering that’s guaranteed to satiate even the most meat-loving of taste buds.
Next, we headed to neo-Parisian bistro Belon for Chef Daniel Calvert's truffle tasting menu ($1,498/person). While the price point is on the high side, Belon’s truffle-tastic menu deftly delivers a delicious meal where the subtle, earthy aroma of Australian black winter truffle carefully permeates each course with panache. Truffle beautifully graced the likes of pigeon pithivier with fig and amaretto and foie gras Périgourdine with blackberry preserve. The highlight, however, was the first dessert of popcorn ice cream with Australian black winter truffle, a delightfully salty-sweet concoction that was big on taste.
Our final truffle stop took us to refined Italian favourite Giando, where the truffle tasting menu ($888/person) was expertly prepared by Chef Gianni Caprioli. Each course was blessed with unsparing heaps of premium truffle. We particularly enjoyed the carpaccio paired with Italian yellow peach, shallot, walnut and Australian black winter truffle and – hands down – one of the best ravioli we've ever tasted. These little pouches were filled with a silky potato mash dotted with bits of pork cheek, coated with a luscious Parmesan sauce and adorned with a generous amount of black truffle.
Arcane: 3/F, 18 On Lan Street, Central, 2728 0178
Belon: 41 Elgin Street, SoHo, Central, 2152 2872
Giando: Shop 1, G/F, Tower 1, Starcrest, 9 Star Street, Wanchai, 2511 8912
This write-up is based on complimentary media tastings provided in exchange for an honest review and no monetary compensation.
