The San Miniato Truffle Festival
A Journey Into Tuscany to Explore this Culinary Specialty
Nov 30, 2008
Author J. L. Vandoyer is quoted as saying, “There are two types of people who eat truffles: those who think truffles are good because they are dear and those who know they are dear because they are good." No matter which type of truffle fan one is (as long as it’s a fan of the mushroom type of truffle, not the chocolate kind), a trip to the San Miniato Truffle Festival is a must for anyone who enjoys the pungent smooth taste of those delicate mushrooms.
Truffles
Truffles are a type of mushroom that grows underground. Traditionally, truffles require animals to assist in its pollination because of their location away from the wind. Animals, usually pigs, are also used to help hunt for the truffles as the mushrooms are believed to emit a smell similar to a pig sex hormone. Dogs, however, have recently become more frequently used when hunting as the animals don’t eat the find as much as the pigs.
Because of the challenge in finding truffles and their rich taste, truffles have become an expensive foodstuff and a favorite of haute cuisine chefs. The record price for a truffle was set in 2007 when a casino owner in Macau paid approximately $330,000 for a 3.3 lb piece.
San Miniato’s Festival
San Miniato, a walled medieval village sitting atop a hill surrounded by vineyards just 40 kilometers from Florence, hosts a white truffle festival every November. The festival devoted to the culinary commodity brings together the best of the local cultivators to share their wares. Standard truffle products (fresh truffles, truffle oil, and special equipment like shavers and containers) are available as are more unique delicious products like cheeses and salamis filled with truffle shavings, truffle honey, and chocolate infused with truffles.
A few food stands at the festival serve rich Tuscan wine in plastic cups with a range of truffle dishes to fill your stomach including truffles on top of sunny side up fried eggs, truffle pizzas, and of course truffles shaved over homemade pasta in a light oil. All restaurants in the small town offer special truffle menus with your choice of dishes or affordable three-course truffle meals.
If You Go
The small village has few places to stay, but the Hotel Miravalle is an affordable choice right in the center of town. You may also choose to stay in a villa or other Tuscan town and visit San Miniato during the day (parking is extremely limited, however).
Don’t forget to enjoy more than just the festival, the town also has a tower first built in the 1200s, a cathedral, and a church.
The festival generally takes place during the last three weeks of November, but visit the official website of “The City of Truffles” first.
Truffle hunting holidays are also available in nearby Siena.
 |
 |
 |
 |
