Who would have thought that a lowly fungus would become one of the most highly prized delicacies of all time, known by many as the diamond of the kitchen. White truffles now cost around £2,500 per kilo and dedicated gourmands have been known to pay even more for particularly large or rare ones. The record price for a single white truffle was set in 2007 by Stanley Yeo who paid £165,000 for a 1.5kg specimen.
If you would like to enjoy some white truffles without breaking the bank this truffle season, look no further…
17-29 November
£28.50 (two courses) £34.50 (three courses)
This old family favourite on Putney Bridge is celebrating white truffle season in style with a menu designed by chef Michele Blasi. For a fortnight Giuseppe and Pamela Turi’s rustic Italian, considered by Harden’s reporters to be a “hidden gem”, will serve a selection of dishes they believe marry well with the distinctive taste of truffle. Choose from turbot with polenta gnocchetti and gratinated chard, veal milanese with cardoon soufflé, artichoke and Maccagno risotto and egg tagliolini. Add shavings of truffle to any meal for a £5 supplement per gram.
Bibendum Restaurant & Oyster Bar SW3
£79
Or head to this Brompton Cross landmark, still considered by many to be “London’s most beautiful restaurant”, where head chef Matthew Harris is in his 20th year at the helm. Harris has devised a white truffle menu of dishes that can be served as either a starter or main course. They include Italian classics like risotto bianco, Piemontese potato gnocchi with Parmesan chive cream and wild mushroom linguine, as well as omelette with truffle duxelles and warm potato purée with poached egg, accompanied by white truffle (£6.50 per gram) grated at the table.
L’Atelier de Joel Robuchon WC2
£230 per person (£320 with matching wines)
At the pricier end of the market, why not take yourself to a Sunday Times top 100 restaurant to taste truffles this season? Not only has L’Atelier de Joel Robuchon created a special Truffle Blanche six course menu, their bartenders have also infused the pungent scent of this prized fungus into a new cocktail, the Truffle Fashion – a blend of Calvados, honey liqueur, Barolo balsamico and white truffle garnish. As one might expect the menu boasts the best of classic French cuisine, starting with an amuse bouche of royale of foie gras with a white truffle and parmesan foam and moving on to a white truffle thin tart with onion and smoked duck.
£300 per person
Or if you prefer to enjoy your truffles while surveying London’s skyline then the Galvins’ 28th floor eyrie, with its views over Hyde Park, is the place for you. At £300 per person it’s no snip, but the menu comes complete with every luxury food-stuff under the sun. Dishes include Scottish scallops with sea vegetables, shellfish reduction and truffled blinis, Kobe beef with pommes boulangere, baby spinach and white truffle and pumpkin macaroon, caramelia chocolate ganache with white chocolate and truffle Chantilly.
Until 31 January
For something a little different why not head to this pop-up, brought to us by supperclub supremo Jimmy Garcia. Located just moments from Balham tube station, it’s worth checking out for the décor alone which includes vintages skis, taxidermy and plenty of tartan blankets. And those in search of truffles can get a hearty fix with truffled mac and cheese on the menu.
£81
Jason Atherton’s lauded Mayfair two-year-old doesn’t have a special truffle menu, but it does have plenty of truffle-infused dishes à la carte. The kitchen’s creations have been the talk of Twitter this season, topping our top five trending restaurants list with an Alba white truffle-inspired dessert. Also on the menu is whole roasted duck for two, sautéed ceps, celeriac and white truffle, spiced leg salad.
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