Oregon Truffle Festival Announces Grand Truffle Dinner Menu

The cuisine of Italy is reimagined through the redolent, earthy essence of Oregon native truffles for the Oregon Truffle Festival's sixth annual Grand Truffle Dinner. The menu, conceived by five of the Northwest region's most acclaimed chefs, masterfully pairs the piquancy of truffles with the robustness of distinctive Italian flavors.

Representing three gastronomic centers of the Northwest corridor - Washington, Oregon and British Columbia - the dinner's five acclaimed chefs will join in a celebration of Oregon truffles and present their unique interpretations of traditional Italian cuisine.

Some of Oregon's finest wines have been selected to complement the multiple flavor dimensions present in each course. This commingling of terroir is designed to amplify the experience of all those fortunate enough to have reserved a place at the table.

The Grand Truffle Dinner will be held on Saturday, Jan. 29 at the Valley River Inn in Eugene, Ore. The meal is included with all weekend experience packages. Otherwise, individual tickets for the dinner may be purchased in advance through the festival website http://www.oregontrufflefestival.com.

2011 Oregon Truffle Festival Grand Truffle Dinner Menu

First Course
Organic Duck Egg al Forno with Oregon White Truffles and Parmigiano Reggiano Crema
Chef Holly Smith, Cafe Juanita, Kirkland, Wash.

Ponzi Vineyards, Pinot Blanc, Willamette Valley 2009

Second Course
Poached Trout with Oregon Black Truffles and Puntarelle Endive Salad
Chef Cathy Whims, Nostrana, Portland, Ore.

Palotai Winery Dolcetto, Umpqua Valley

Third Course
Garganelli alla Norcina with Wild Boar Sausage Ragout and Oregon White Truffles
Chef Pino Posteraro, Cioppino's Mediterranean Enoteca, Vancouver, British Columbia

Willamette Valley Vineyards, Pinot Noir, Signature Cuvee 2008

Fourth Course
Wellington of Beef with Oregon Black Truffle Demi-Glace and Potato, Cauliflower and Oregon White Truffle Gratin
Chef David Anderson, Genoa, Portland

J. Scott Cellars, Cabernet Sauvignon, Rogue Valley 2007

Dessert
Espresso Panna Cotta with Oregon Black Truffle and Oregon White Truffle Zeppole
Chef Rocky Maselli, Osteria Sfizio, Eugene

Noble Estate Winery, Muscat Semi-Sparkling, Willamette Valley 2009

About the Oregon Truffle Festival

Now in its sixth year, the Oregon Truffle Festival is the premier event of its kind in North America and showcases a truly unique culinary treasure, native Oregon truffles. Oregon plays a key role in the growing international truffle industry, through both the focal point provided by the Oregon Truffle Festival, and through decades of research on truffles at Oregon State University (OSU). Several of the world's most successful truffle researchers and farmers received their graduate and postdoctoral training at OSU, including festival co-founder Charles Lefevre, of New World Truffieres.

Registration is open for Oregon Truffle Festival weekend experiences and the Grand Truffle Dinner. Five weekend and several stand-alone options are available, including cooking classes, winery luncheons, truffle forays, farm tours and multi-course truffle dinners, in addition to the educational seminars. All options may be purchased online at http://www.oregontrufflefestival.com.