From Queensland with a New York accent: a dinner truffle experience

Truffles are the stars of a new winter menu at W Brisbane’s signature restaurant The Lex.

The eatery is known for fusing Queensland produce with New York City influences, but the fungi are being sourced from the other side of the country in Western Australia.

Lex is showcasing a dedicated truffle inclusion, putting the spotlight on one of the season’s superstars: French Perigord truffles, with freshly shaved truffle added to their à la carte choices for $15 a gram.

Sourced from Oak Valley Farm in Western Australia, the truffles also star on a four-course Truffle Tasting menu, with menu highlights including a Moreton Bay Bug roll paired with smoky truffle aioli, and Tater Tots with crème fraîche and black truffle.

A winter hero dish, the slow-cooked and smoked Warilba lamb rump is served with parsnip, green carrot oil and shaved truffle. Guests can also opt to upgrade to the MB6+ Wagyu NY strip steak, topped with freshly shaved truffle and finished with a garlic jus.



Rounding out the truffle-laced experience are sides like roasted potatoes with rosemary garlic oil and truffle, Truffle Mac & Cheese with lobster, and creamed spinach with Gruyere cheese and Warrigal greens.

The winter dining experience at The Lex also features interactive elements that add a theatrical element to the menu - this is Brisbane, after all.

Guests can indulge in a caviar bump to start, preview a dry-aged tomahawk steak tableside, or end the evening with the cheese trolley.

The hotel says 85%+ ingredients are sourced locally from Queensland suppliers.

The Lex four-course Truffle Tasting menu is available until July 31 for for $145 per person with wine pairing options also available.

The Lex is open for dinner Monday-Saturday nights. Sounds right up my alley next time I am in Brisbane. 

You can book here.

Where to snuffle out some truffle goodness

So you have a yen for truffles?


From truffle-themed wine-matched lunches to hands-on truffle hunts, Ultimate Winery Experiences Australia is showcasing several ways to unearth the magic of truffles and wine this winter.

Truffle Lunch Series at Pt. Leo Estate

Mornington Peninsula's Pt. Leo Estate is hosting a series of truffle-themed lunches at its two-hatted restaurant, Laura, in conjunction with local producers Red Hill Truffles. The day kicks off with a cooking demonstration by culinary director Josep Espuga followed by a four-course menu with dishes enriched by truffles. On August 25, the Luxe Truffle Lunch is where guests get to meet the owners of Red Hill Truffles and their truffle hunting dogs before sitting down to a seven-course truffle-centric menu with wine pairings available. Dates: July 19, August 11, August 25. Cost: $225-$380 per person.

Oak Valley Truffle Menu and Chef’s Table Lunch at Leeuwin Estate

The Manjimup region of Western Australia is known for its high-quality truffles, and Leeuwin Estate in Margaret River has collaborated with Oak Valley Truffles to offer a month-long, six-course truffle-themed menu at the winery restaurant. The Oak Valley Truffle Lunch menu is available for the month of July, and features dishes like Jerusalem artichoke with truffle, chestnut fazzoletti, egg yolk and roasted onion, paired with current and museum release wines. On July 27, head chef Dan Gedge will present a Chef’s Table Truffle Lunch with five truffle courses and co-owner Simone Furlong will share stories on the wines. Dates: Throughout July (truffle menu) and July 27 (Chef’s Table lunch event). Cost: $250-$260.

Red Hill Truffle Weekend at Montalto Estate

Leading Mornington Peninsula wine producer Montalto Estate is partnering with Red Hill Truffles on July 20-21 for a "decadent truffle extravaganza", with a set menu showcasing Red Hill truffles, or the option to add shaved truffle to dishes served in the Piazza. On Sunday, July 21, guests can book in for an interactive truffle hunt and get their hands dirty digging for truffles alongside truffle hunting dogs Thomas and Maddie. The experience concludes with a five-course truffle-inspired lunch, starring the truffles unearthed on the morning’s hunt. Dates: July 20-21. Cost: $125-$269.

Festa Tartufo at Josef Chromy Wines

Tasmania’s chilly climate and rich soil has proved ideal for growing truffles, which is why Festa Tartufo - or Truffle Festival - is returning to Josef Chromy Wines at Relbia, outside Launceston. A five-course dinner will see executive chef Nick Raitt reveal the nuances of truffles with dishes matched to winemaker Ockie Myburgh's cool-climate wines. Date: August 2. Cost: $160.

Truffle Dinners at Mandoon Estate

Mandoon Estate in the Swan Valley will be taking guests on a culinary journey in August, with two truffle-inspired dinner events. Matched Mandoon Estate wines from both Margaret River and the Swan Valley will be available to enhance the flavour of dishes starring West Australian ingredients like Stirling Ranges beef short rib and Abrolhos sea scallops (with a generous dose of truffle). Dates: August 9 and 16. Cost: $125.

For details see: https://www.ultimatewineryexperiences.com.au/

The Wild, the Innocent and the Margaret River truffle

Margaret River is one of Australia's pre-eminent wine regions, but it also wants to build a reputation for truffles.

Truffle hunting experiences will be available in the heart of the Margaret River region this winter - a first for the area.

The Margaret River Truffle Farm is offering experiences following the farm's truffle dogs, Alby and Taz, as they lead the way through rows of oak and hazelnut trees in search of the rare funghi.

The Margaret River Truffle Farm is a family-owned and -operated property, using farming techniques with minimal intervention to produce highly-prized black French truffles.

The owners have been working to get their farm ready for visits and truffle hunts, and will start offering these experiences this winter, Tourism Western Australia reports.

Go in style and Forage Safaris will include the farm's truffle hunting experiences in the tour itineraries for 2024 - with the goal of providing a bookable product in 2025.

Go In Style is offering Margaret River Truffle Tours in June, July and August - with one-hour or two-hour experiences available with truffle hunting, and the opportunity to taste truffle and the range of truffle-infused products.

The two-hour experience also includes premium tastings, such as truffle on soup, pate, and pizza.

Forage Safaris is offering a full-day food, farm and wine tour, featuring truffle hunting during the 2024 truffle season, from June to August.

Truffles have been growing near the towns of Manjimup and Pemberton in Western Australia's south west for decades, producing 70% of Australia's truffle supply.

Truffle hunts are also available at these truffieres through the months of June, July and August, at Australian Truffle Traders and Truffle Hill.

The Truffle Kerfuffle festival will, meanwhile, return to the town of Manjimup from June 28-30. Visitors can go truffle hunting, taste their way through the Festival Village, meet farmers and growers, discover local wine and produce, and indulge in truffle laden experiences with leading chefs.

Images: Rachel Claire 

New festival replaces canned Truffle Kerfuffle

Calling all gourmets in Western Australia.

Truffle Kerfuffle may have been kicked into touch for 2022, but it has been replaced by the new Manjimup Truffle and Wine Festival, to be held from June 24-26.

The new event will showcase local producers and makers with truffle tours, gourmet degustation dinners, dog-led truffle hunts, farm visits, wine tastings, entertainment and wine masterclasses.

Events will be held across the Manjimup and Pemberton regions at venues including Truffle Hill Wines, Hidden River Estate, Ampersand Estates, Tall Timbers Manjimup, Pemberley of Pemberton, Stonebarn Estate and more.

Chefs on hand will include TV personalities Alistair McLeod and Laura Sharrad.

The event is supported by the Manjimup and Pemberton Chambers of Commerce, Southern Forest Food Council, Shire of Manjimup and Tourism WA.

It comes after the annual Truffle Kerfuffle, which has been held since 2011, was cancelled this year with organisers saying in April: "Lasting impacts of the pandemic have undermined the 2022 festival’s ticket sales and the availability of a skilled regional workforce that is necessary to put on the event. To maintain the high standard Truffle Kerfuffle is known for, the board has decided to cancel the 2022 event and to focus efforts on delivering the festival in 2023 and 2024."

But some locals refused to give up.

“We wanted to be sure the annual truffle season was marked in some way, given the Shire of Manjimup is the largest producer of black truffles in the southern hemisphere, so we will be opening our farm and truffle restaurant for the whole weekend to celebrate,” Truffle Hill wine director Stuart Hutchinson said.

“There are more than 60 local truffières and they provide 95% of Australia’s production, so it’s important we continue to highlight what’s on offer.

“Demand for high-quality, high-value food and beverage products is increasing, with many consumers now seeking out specialised products and experiences – and the Shire of Manjimup has those in spades.”

Manjimup Gateway Hotel is hosting several truffle-related events with some already sold out.

For more information and details of confirmed events, visit www.manjimuptruffleandwinefestival.com.au