Get excited because winter is just around the corner and that means that truffle season isn’t far away! The 2019 Truffle Kerfuffle program, presented by Winning Appliances & Asko, was recently released and there are some wonderful events scheduled.
Last year was my first visit to the Truffle Kerfuffle and my only regret is that it took me so long to get around to going! For foodies it is a complete must do – trust me when I say it is such a delicious weekend away. There are so many tempting and indulgent dishes on offer, all which showcase the earthy wonder of the Western Australian black truffle. Do you fancy truffle with your breakfast? Sure! With lunch? Done! For dinner? You got it! You can have it in drinks or infused into butter or oil or honey. The list goes on, so if you are a truffle fan then it is the perfect place to indulge your passion.
And the setting couldn’t be more perfect. Fonty’s Pool is located just outside the town of Manjimup in the Southern Forest region. This winter wonderland has played host to the festival for the past few years and its sprawling grounds are completely idyllic. From the stunning set up to the opening night dinner, fairy lights and fire pits abound, and add to the complete magic of such a decadent experience.
Then there is the Festival Village itself, the vibrant hub of the whole weekend’s event, where you can happily wander from watching cooking demos to wine tastings, before making the tricky decision of which of the many tempting truffle dishes you want to indulge in (all of them please).
Within the Festival Village there is plenty of space to sit and enjoy your tasty food and a glass of wine, while enjoying some of the live entertainment. It was that relaxed ambiance that won me over. Despite the complete and utter luxury of what we were there to enjoy, it is an event without pretension. Everyone is relaxed and just happy to share their passion for good local food and wines.
Accommodation wise there are packages available and you can actually stay right on site at Fonty’s Pool. You can check out the various options here. Otherwise if you book somewhere in Manjimup, Pemberton, Bridgetown or Nannup, the organisers have made getting to and from Truffle Kerfuffle easy too, with a helpful shuttle that runs to and from these towns throughout the days of the festival.
Several Perth restaurants attend the Festival Village and create their own signature truffle dishes. The cob loaf from the team at The Heritage was such a crowd pleaser and it would be amazing if it made a return in 2019… I’d be first in line! So divine!
Each year different chefs from Western Australia and beyond also attend and for 2019 Chef Pete Evans has the opening night dinner honours with his Enchanted Southern Forests Feast. It’s always interesting to see each chef’s menu for this prestigious event and how they’ve chosen to showcase this special and unique ingredient. The truffle is actually surprisingly versatile and included in every course of this lavish affair and in abundance. It’s a very memorable way to begin the weekend.
On Saturday night, two of my favourite chefs are teaming up for L’Elegante Tartufo Dinner. Santini’s Nic Wood and Melissa Palinkas from Young George are set to create an Italian inspired feast and I have no doubt it will be an entirely outstanding evening of fine dining and utter deliciousness.
Then on both the Saturday and Sunday mornings you can start your day at Fonty’s by booking in for one of the brunches they have on offer. Saturday is the Magical Manjimup Brunch with Aaron Carr and Mary Street Bakery, then on Sunday it’s the Wholesome Winter Brunch with Pete Evans. A delightful truffle focused feed before you let the good times roll and continue on to explore the Festival Village.
An exciting add on for your Festival Village experience is the Chef’s Cabin Series. You can book in to spend some quality time with some outstanding chefs like Amy Hamilton from Albany’s Liberte Restaurant for the World of Truffles, or the Must be a Truffle Lover session with Russell Blaikie from Must Wine Bar or the session with Masterchef season one favourite Poh – Poh’s Truffled Kitchen. Well worth checking these out (here’s the full list) – they really are a special way to enhance your day at Fonty’s Pool.
And one final thing I’d definitely suggest doing is a truffle hunt. See the incredibly clever pups in action, boots and all, because it’s amazing to watch them when they switch to working mode. Plus being able to smell a fresh truffle just unearthed is unforgettable. Here’s some snaps from when we went hunting with local chef and truffle farmer, David Coomer. It’s safe to say, we fell totally in love with his truffle dogs, as well as the produce they were sniffing out!
The Southern Forest region is a very special part of WA and the events do such an outstanding job of celebrating the joy of the truffle. So I would highly recommend that you check out the schedule of events and start planning a winter getaway where you can immerse yourself in the magic of this truly unforgettable foodie festival!
The link to all the events and where to buy tickets is shown below. http://www.trufflekerfuffle.com.au/
Please note that this a sponsored post for Truffle Kerfuffle. I cannot wait for 2019 Truffle Kerfuffle!
perthmunchkin 
Looking forward to this! Agree – my fave thing to do during the festival is to join in on a truffle hunt.