Star chefs head Truffle Kerfuffle line-up

Star chefs Colin Fassnidge, Analiese Gregory, Tony Howell and Jake Kellie are among the major drawcards for this year's Truffle Kerfuffle festival in West Australia.

The event will run from June 23-25 at Fonty's Pool, Manjimup, and tickets go on sale on Monday.

Organisers are promising a "decadent weekend festival with exquisite dining events, masterclasses, truffle hunts, markets and more".

The event is held in the most prolific truffle growing region in the southern hemisphere.

Irish-born Colin Fassnidge (above) trained under French chef Raymond Blanc, has helmed several top restaurants and is now a familiar face on TV cooking shows.

I first tasted his food decades ago when he was cooking in a tiny kitchen in Rozelle at Le Grande Bouffe - and was a star in the making.

 

“I'm so happy to be attending the Truffle Kerfuffle event this year," he said. "The produce is exceptional and it's a great region with great people.

"I jumped at the chance to come this year as I use the produce and it's been way too long between visits! I'm looking forward to bringing people together with some great food.”

Fassnidge will create a multi-course dinner centred on freshly harvested black truffles and other Southern Forests produce. He will also run a Chef’s Cabin masterclass, and do a cooking demonstration on the Festival Village Stage.

Gregory, the former executive chef of Franklin in Hobart, returns to Truffle Kerfuffle.

“In 2021 when I was last at the festival, I really loved the ability to let my mind run wild in terms of cooking with truffles. It’s not often you have such a free rein to combine them in such copious quantities with other produce,” she said.

“I’m looking forward to pushing the boundaries of that again in a new menu and looking forward to cooking with Melissa Palinkas and to again be among the beauty of the region.”

For full details of the events see www.trufflekeruffle.com.au

Tickets are on sale from Monday via Moshtix

Truffle Kerfuffle back on the menu

Calling all lovers of pungent fungi.

The Truffle Kerfuffle festival has been confirmed for June 23-25, 2023, in the heart of Australian truffle country at Manjimup, Western Australia.

The event was cancelled in 2022 due to uncertainty surrounding public safety during the pandemic.

Manjimup, in WA's Southern Forests, is the most prolific truffle growing region in the southern hemisphere, producing about 85%t of all black truffles grown in Australia and fetching prices of up to $3,000 per kilogram.

Deputy Premier and Minister for Tourism Roger Cook welcomed the return of Truffle Kerfuffle and said it was a key event in the gourmet food calendar.

“This event not only highlights the world-class nature of Manjimup’s own truffles, but also brings thousands of visitors to the region and provides a fantastic base to explore Australia’s South West,” he said."

Truffle Kerfuffle is a celebration of Manjimup’s “black gold”, sought-after by chefs around the globe for their consistent high quality and heady, earthy aromas.

Events on the menu include candle-lit long-table feasts, fireside cooking classes with top chefs, truffle dog demonstrations and truffle hunts, a market selling local produce, wine sessions and spirit tastings and free cooking demonstrations.

Project manager Sophie Zalokar said: “The Southern Forests region’s soils and climate and its successful and hard-working truffle growers produce first-class truffles.

“I’m excited about my new role which includes providing creative direction, curating the talent selection and working collaboratively with chefs, growers and the community.”

For details see www.trufflekeruffle.com.au

Image: Sarah Hewer