Late summer truffles (tartufi neri estivi)
The recent rains followed by more sun and heat have brought the smell of mushrooms to the surrounding woods, so we shall be out and about searching for the best funghi – hopefully we’ll even find some porcini to make into delicious sauces and for drying.
Despite it still being summer, it definitely feels like autumn might be just around the corner and this puts me in mind of the three wonderful truffle festivals that are in this area – all to celebrate the famous Tartufo Bianco Pregiato. One, in the beautiful mediaeval hilltop town of Sant’ Agata Feltria, is held every Sunday in October with a truffle and mushroom market, fantastic food stalls and restaurants and lots of great local produce and crafts. More information here: www.santagatainfiera.com/fiera_del_tartufo_bianco_programma.asp
There are also the national truffle exhibitions in Sant’ Angelo in Vado – held during the last three weekends in October and the first of November (www.mostratartufo.com), and in Acqualanga – weekends from the end of October to the middle of November (www.comune.acqualagna.ps.it)
If you’re looking for a mushroom and truffle filled holiday, we recommend you come here! We can take you out on walks looking for mushrooms, teach you how to make pasta – served with truffles and mushrooms of course – recommend local restaurants with the best truffle menus and introduce you to friends and neighbours who might just be able to sell you a few delicious truffles to take home.
Sooner though, we still have availability for September. The weather looks like it’ll stay fine and with the Festa del Fungo in nearby San Sisto (www.sansistofungo.it/index.htm) to kick things off, it looks like it’s going to be an autumn full of mushroomy goodness!