SNUFFLE FIVE BEST TRUFFLES
Winter’s most prized crop is here for a good time, not a long time. Chantay Logan and Sally Coates unearth five restaurants where you can sample the black gold
2444 GOLD COAST HWY, MERMAID BEACH
Perhaps truffles are so appealing because they play hard to get? They may be at the whim of a fickle season, but Little Truffle holds out for the very best of the best. If they don’t have that intoxicatingly earthy, room-filling aroma, executive chef Daniel Ridgeway sends them straight back to his WA supplier. While the pick of the produce costs upwards of $2000/kg, this Mermaid restaurant isn’t stingy on the shavings. The addition of truffle elevates any of the restaurant’s dishes, but try it on the wild mushroom pan-fried gnocchi and you won’t be disappointed.
8TH AVE TERRACE LEVEL 1/1176 GOLD COAST HWY, PALM
BEACH
8th Ave Terrace owner Shannon BaierDry say they’re using truffles from an emerging truffle area in the southern highlands of NSW. Their truffle based dishes change nightly, but simplicity is key, such as last week’s parmesan risotto with mushrooms and shaved truffle. “I think if you’re going to try something as special as fresh truffle you really want it to shine, Shannon says. ” 8th Ave will host a full truffle degustation July 26.
CUCINA VIVO THE STAR GOLD COAST
The Star’s stalwart Italian eatery’s truffle menu, as described by restaurant executive chef Dustin Osuch, sounds like heaven on a plate. “Decadent meals that will feature on our rotating menu include the oxtail and black truffle agnolotti with cultured butter, shaved black truffle and pecorino reggiano; and an amazing combination of thinly sliced Wagyu beef, balsamic onion, foie gras vinaigrette and black truffle.”
COCOTTE DINING 361 ROBINA PARKWAY, ROBINA
This French-Japanese eatery is as much of a hidden treasure as truffles themselves. Owner and head chef Shunichi Tanabe is currently offering shaved Stonebarn French Perigord truffle over select dishes . Shun is also in the process of crafting a special truffle menu for later in the season, which last year included pairing the black gold with topquality sashimi, sticking to Cocotte’s deliciously different fusion of cultures.
PALAZZO VERSACE 94 SEAWORLD DR, MAIN BEACH
Marketing manager Jasmine Webb says says truffle season is a cause for celebration at Versace. “We’re celebrating Truffle Hunt across all of the venues with two events, a cocktail party and an extravagant chef ’s table event in our lobby. Vanitas is also doing Truffle Month, known as the Truffle Hunt, for the month of August.” The Vanitas truffle-centric menu is yet to be finalised, but will also star Stonebarn French Perigord Truffles.