Smell that earthy (and expensive) fragrance in the air? It’s white truffle season, and local restaurants are shaving this seasonal delicacy on all kinds of special dishes right now, so don’t delay.
This classic SF restaurant knows how to do it up when it’s truffle season—get ’em shaved on their famous risotto, beef tartare, or potato gnocchi. You can choose off the prix-fixe menu and pay $70 for the 5g supplement, or go whole hog and get the special white truffle tasting menu for $395 per person (which includes the sublime ridged pasta with “foie gras,” black truffle, and Marsala). Come by for truffles from now until early December. 1722 Sacramento Street
Chef-owner Craig Stoll just returned from a trip to Piemonte, so you can bet he’s fired up on truffle dishes right now. Come by on Monday and Tuesday November 24 and 25 for Delfina’s annual truffle dinners and expanded selection of Barolos and Barbarescos to pair with some fantastic truffle-friendly dishes. Book a reservation now. 3621 18th Street
A restaurant that’s focused on Piemontese cuisine (i.e. land of white truffles) is already more than primed to offer dishes that are downright built for truffles. You can getthree grams of truffles shaved tableside on classics like veal tartare, or tajarin with prosciutto di San Daniele and a 63°C egg (view the menu here). Don’t forget a bottle of Barolo. And your AMEX black card. 230 California Street
From now until Saturday, November 22, Quince is hosting their annual white truffle dinners. You can ogle the newly designed dining room while deciding between a five- or nine-course truffle tasting menu. The five-course menu is $350 per person (with wine pairings for an additional $250), and the nine-course menu is $550 per person (wine pairings are $375), not including tax and gratuity. 470 Pacific Avenue
Another place that just redid their dining room is this East Bay Italian institution. And lucky you, Oliveto just extended their truffle dinners through Saturday November 22. You’ll want to try their fonduta Val d’Aosta with charcoal-grilled crostini and white truffle butter, and the tajarin al burro. The truffles are also a relatively affordable $6 per gram, shaved tableside. 5655 College Avenue, Oakland.
Marcia Gagliardi is the founder of the weekly tablehopper e-column; subscribe and get more food news and gossip at tablehopper.com. Follow her on Twitter: @tablehopper.
