White truffle season is in full swing, and many San Francisco restaurants are offering special dishes and dinners to celebrate this pungent, seasonal luxury. While all of these places are serving numerous dishes, here are five you shouldn’t miss.
Acquerello
This bastion of Italian elegance on Russian Hill adores truffles, and pays loving homage on their tasting menus. You can go with a classic like risotto with Parmesan, but how often do you see white truffles in your dessert? Exactly. There is a creation with white truffle gelato, cocoa crumb, and shaved Valrhona dark chocolate truffle. (If you happen to see any dishes featuring eggs from chef Suzette Gresham’s chickens, do not hesitate.)
Delfina is hosting its annual truffle dinners from Monday November 18th–Thursday November 21st; the restaurant (which is just turning 15!) is famous for its superlative panna cotta, so stick with a similar shape and order the savory sformato custard of Parmigiano Reggiano. One interesting thing to note: chef-owner Craig Stoll discovered that Microplaning a truffle can deliver quite a bit more bang for the flavor buck, so you may get a fluffier presentation of your white truffles on a few dishes. While a traditionalist might sneer, it’s hard to argue with what tastes fantastico.
Oliveto
The Oakland restaurant just announced the dates for its annual truffle dinners, running from November 19th through the 22nd, so you’ll want to book your reservation now. You can check out chef Jonah Rhodehamel’s menu, which is full of options, but the dish you won’t want to miss is the fonduta Val d’Aosta with white truffle butter poured over crostini. You’ll want to hot tub in it, it’s so good. And look at that, the dish is built for two.
Perbacco
From now through November 23rd, this sophisticated Financial District restaurant is serving a number of authentic Piemontese dishes that you can get three grams of truffles shaved on top of (get ready for the tableside show). You have to try the classic tajarin (hand-cut tagliatelle) with prosciutto di San Daniele and a 63°C hen egg. It’s pretty epic. And you’ll have plenty of gorgeous Barolo or Barbaresco to pair with it.
Poggio
Just across the Golden Gate Bridge in Sausalito, Poggio is celebrating its 10-year anniversary, and has kicked off its annual Festa di Tartufo: 10 days of white truffles, on now through November 24th. Executive chef Benjamin Balesteri is serving a Piemontese dream of a dish: raviolo con uovo (ravioli with ricotta and soft egg yolk), among some other delicious creations. Buon appetito.
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.
