Gourmands eagerly await inaugural Napa Truffle Festival, Dec. 10-12, 2010

If you’ve never tasted a truffle and wonder what all the fuss is about, the best answer comes straight from the truffle’s mouth:
"The most learned men have been questioned as to the nature of this tuber, and after two thousand years of argument and discussion their answer is the same as it was on the first day: we do not know. The truffles themselves have been interrogated, and have answered simply: eat us and praise the Lord."
Alexandre Dumas (1802-1870)

Or better yet, come and find out for yourself when The American Truffle Company proudly introduces The Napa Truffle Festival, destined to be North America's premier truffle event. This unique event honors the black Périgord truffle (Tuber melanosporum) and the black summer Burgundy truffle (Tuber aestivum/uncinatum) in all its fungi finery.

A plethora of Michelin star chefs and the world’s top truffle scientists will offer a variety of cooking demonstration classes and truffle cultivation seminars, all interesting to be sure but any serious foodie worth a whisk will not want to miss the highlight of the weekend:
An exclusive six-course truffle dinner hosted by Michelin Star Chef Ken Frank (La Toque) restaurant and a Michelin Star Chef dream-team (totaling an amazing 13 stars between them) including Josiah Citrin of Mélisse, Santa Monica, CA; David Kinch of Manresa, Los Gatos, CA; Gabriel Kreuther of The Modern, New York, NY; Nancy Oakes of Boulevard, San Francisco, CA; and Sylvain Portay of Le Louis XV (Monte Carlo), Mix (Las Vegas) and Adour (NY).

Who should attend:

Gourmet cooks will be able to get to see their fave Master chef in action at the demonstration cooking classes held at the Culinary Institute of America.

Oenophiles will want to join Michelin star chef Ken Frank of La Toque Restaurant and Wine Director, Scott Tracy, in The Art of Wine-Truffle Pairing, as they discuss the key principles in pairing these tricky fungi with vino.

Science geeks will have the opportunity to learn all about Dr. Alexander Urban’s work on “In vitro mycorrhization of clonally propagated woody plants” as well as hearing from other top truffle scientists.

Epicurean entrepreneurs can learn all the inside secrets to starting your own truffle orchard (which can be highly profitable) while touring Robert Sinskey Vineyards’ new organic and biodynamic truffle orchard.

And Trufflemanians will be able to pig-out (a little truffle pun) to their hearts content at La Toque's truffle lunch, a decadent Champagne truffle brunch and the Michelin StarTruffle Dinner. I venture that even Curnonsky would leave satisfied.
When asked by a social-climbing Paris hostess how he liked his truffles, Curnonsky replied,
"In great quantity, madame. In great quantity."
Curnonsky (Maurice Edmond Sailland)
French writer (1872-1956)

Various packages are available (but  hurry before they are sold-out) and start at:

The Epicurean Marketplace - $15
— Sample & shop a village marketplace in the Courtyard of the Westin Verasa
— Live music and demonstrations will add to the festive scene

all the way up to a culinary weekend you’ll never forget:

The Truffle Gourmand - $1,325
— All-inclusive 3-day pass to all events, and the Michelin Star Truffle Dinner
— You may mix and match activities on any day
— Best value and most flexible

The luxurious Westin Verasa  in downtown Napa will serve as the host venue and offers a special discount rate for the festival weekend. (Their signature Heavenly Beds® guarantee a restful night’s sleep, while visions of truffles dance in your head.)