Truffles are expensive, no doubts about that. But people bid like crazy for this exotic mound of fungus. Two months back on the 13th of November, truffles were sold for £64,000, in the seventh annual Alba white truffle auction. This truffle is available only in Piedmont, Italy and it weighs 2lb, 10oz. International celebrities from Shanghai, Honk Kong, Italy and London participated in the bid organized by the Piedmontese tourist board in aid of charity. The bid for this truffle went behind £30,000, which rose to £57,000 on Mr. Giorgi’s bid who was bidding for Pierre Gagnier and the final bid stayed at £64,000. The Alba white truffle scooped out a whopping RM415, 800 by an anonymous lady, bidding for an anonymous corporation.
I don’t know what the Hong Kong Corporation might have done with it, but this year the truffle sophistication is caught up with the chic haute cuisine. This expensive truffle is served in shavings as the demand for “truffle-topped” dishes is high and procuring a good quality truffle can be pretty expensive in all sense of the term. What charms me the most is Chef Matthias Kindl’s line of the white Alba truffle creations in the The Mandarin Oriental Hotel Kuala Lumpur.
The very thought of delicious, Tasmanian Salmon topped with white Alba truffle shavings, reminds me of having smoky grilled salmon with a creamy and a bit spicy sauce. Poached Foie Gras Terrine with truffles, creates a similar kind of magic, as the delicious duck meat is flavored with pungent truffles.
The Wagyu Beef Tenderloin with the Alba truffle tastes heaven, as truffles flavor permeates into the tender beef meat. These white Alba truffle delicacies are affordable as they start with RM88 per appetizer. In line with Kindl is Gordon Ramsay, who announced that he would sell pizza topped with white truffle at £100.
This $112,000 worth of truffle, weighing 1.2 kg has its shavings on pasta, meats, steaks, custards, seafood, pears, pizzas,eggs all constitute truffle courses. A five course truffle lunch or dinner can cost uptu $250 in truffle’s homeland Italy.
Truffle, truffle, a fungus, a mold…oops! It would be undervaluing the most valuable, sophisticated and the “meant for rich” delicacy in Europe.
