by Nadia Toppino
The Rocche del Roero are recognized as one of the most extensive and prized truffle grounds. The white truffle of Alba from Rocche del Roero is appreciated for the unique characteristics that the sandy hills of Roero give it: round and smooth, ochrecolour, intense and elegant aroma. A real “cru” of the Alba White Truffle. Protected in its habitat and guaranteed by the trifolau of the TartufaiRocche del Roero Association. Pampered by the Rocche del Roero Ecomuseum.
As with great wines, the climate changes taking place force us to rethink also the truffle. In a truffle season that delays and lengthens, the “December truffle” imposes itself not only for its excellent quality, but also for its quantity. While the “January truffle” is Mother Earth’s poetry: “the last of the year, the first of the year”.
These are the reasons behind the moment of celebration organized by the Municipality of Santo Stefano Roero around the Truffle and Tartufaie of the Rocche del Roero, an event that has qualified over the years for its cultural, naturalistic and local contents. It was a stimulus for the protection of truffle hunters (also with the creation of municipal truffle hunters), the birth of the “Rocche del Roero truffle hunters association”, the signing of the “Santo Stefano Roero Charter” to motivate chefs, restaurateurs and operators of the Roero sector to accompany the “Alba white truffle Rocche del Roero” with the narration of the suggestive landscape of the fortresses and with the news that come from historical documents and popular culture.
And these chefs are involved in this month of January, in a series of events organized precisely to promote this culinary poetry.
The scheduled dates are:
• Friday 3rd January in Guarene, at La Madernassa restaurant with chef Michelangelo Mammoliti
• Friday 10th January in Piobesid’Alba at Restaurant 21.9 with chef Flavio Costa
• Friday 17th January in Priocca at the Il Centro restaurant with chef Elide Mollo
• Friday 24th January in Canale at the All Enoteca restaurant with chef DavidePalluda
Dinners cost € 120.00 including truffles and wines, and can be booked directly at the restaurants. Friday 31st January at the end of a January of truffles, in Santo Stefano Roero, at Palarocche, the final festival of the Alba white truffle season with the trifolau of Langhe-Roero-Monferrato, with free admission.