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There are beer and wine festivals. There are Renaissance festivals. But truffle festivals? Those are a bit more rare in the United States and can be as tough to track down as the famous fungus itself.
Not familiar with these culinary delights? Jean Brillat-Savarin, a renowned French gastronome, once described them as "the diamond of the kitchen." Essentially mushrooms that grow underground, truffles are considered one of the finest delicacies in the world, with more obscure varieties selling for thousands of dollars. In 2008, casino tycoon Stanley Ho purchased a white truffle from Tuscany for $330,000 at an annual auction in Hong Kong.
But not all truffles come with six-figure price tags. While "hunters" continue to search for them in the wild with specially trained dogs, and sometimes pigs as well, modern cultivation practices and truffle-growing operations have made the once difficult-to-find treats more commonplace in America's kitchens. Still, they tend to be pricey and are often used sparingly in pastas, salads and meat dishes. A London spirit-maker also found another way to make use of the popular mushrooms. Recently, it released Black Moth Vodka, a truffle-infused liquor that landed on GQ's 2011 list of "The 100 Best Things in the World."
Now that you know a bit more about truffles, you're ready to make use of your knowledge at two of the country's best truffle fests, both of which are coming up this January.
Napa Truffle Festival, Jan. 13-16
Now in its second year, this gathering in Napa, Calif. is North America's premiere truffle event. It draws food writers, chefs and fungi fans from all over the culinary world. Former Bon Appetit editor Barbara Fairchild is scheduled to deliver the keynote address, but the true star of 2012's festival will be black truffles, among them the divine winter Perigord, which will be discussed, cooked and served to the attendees.
Among the programs and activities scheduled for the weekend are tours of the truffle orchard at Sinskey Vineyards, a marketplace featuring local vendors and an elaborate multi-course dinner prepared by a Michelin Star Chef. Specially-trained truffle dogs will also be on hand to show off their hunting skills and training.
Oregon Truffle Festival, Jan. 27-29
The seventh annual festival will be held in and around Eugene, Ore. Celebrating the state's wild truffles, the somewhat more down-to-earth event (please, pardon the pun), will feature a breakfast and a truffle hunt on the Jan. 28 in the forests outside the city for those who sign up for the first of its four "experience" levels. Each includes a variety of activities. Those who opt for the more extravagant "Experience Four: The Epicurious Harvester" tier will be able to attend lectures, dinners and truffle training sessions with their own dogs from home. The event will also feature chefs from around the country and a lively marketplace.