The Truffle Melbourne free festival weekend has become a much loved event in Melbourne's culinary calendar, but regrettably our 2020 free festival weekend has become just another COVID-19 hospitality casualty. We had rescheduled the weekend for early August, before the end of the Australian fresh truffle season, but unfortunately it looks like social distancing requirement will still be in place then. So to protect the health and safety of our guests, we've been forced to postpone this year's QVM weekend celebrations.
But all is not lost! The early signs are that ironically, 2020 looks like it's going to be a great fresh truffle season, with good late summer rains, and now some cool evenings arriving early to hasten the ripening process. So we're hoping to have fresh, aromatic new season truffles available instore at our Queen Vic Market Pop Up and online from 28 May.
And we're working on some new ways to bring you truffle love this year, so sign up to our newsletter to be first with the latest truffle news. Despite this bloody virus, the truffles are coming, and will be here very very soon - something to look forward to just when we need some hope and inspiration!
For our nostalgic friends, here are some reminders of last year's festival weekend:
Mock truffle dog hunts took place undercover in A-Shed throughout the weekend. Professional truffle hunting dogs and festival favourites Isadora, Forrest and Comet, along with their siblings from Brimfeldt Australian Shepherds, delighted market visitors with their truffle hunting skills.
2019 FRESH TRUFFLE & TRUFFLE PRODUCE EXHIBITORS
Black Cat Truffles’ premium quality Black Perigord Truffle fresh from their truffiere in the Victorian Goldfields will be available for sale, along with a range of tempting truffle produce including truffle honey, oil, salt and truffle relish.
Direct from their truffiere on the Mornington Peninsula, Red Hill Truffles will have a bounty of the finest fresh truffles available to purchase, along with exceptional artisanal produce such as salts, butter and other truffled delights.
Sniff and savour fresh Australian truffles or taste Truffle Melbourne's range of delectable take home products from the 'Truffle Paddock'. A range of truffle favourites from Victoria, across Australia, and the best European producers is also available including truffle sauces, pastes, mustards, honeys, oils and other gourmet treats can be enjoyed at home or make the perfect gift.
The Truffle House has been supplying premium, Australian grown, black truffle from the hills of South Gippsland since 2005. Fresh truffle will be available for sale, along with a selection of produce, truffled eggs and even truffle shavers.
2019 READY-TO-EAT EXHIBITORS
Market favourites, Cafe Verona will be serving piping hot truffled Sicillian arancini and fresh potato chips with truffle mayonnaise.
Country Victoria's Havenwood Hollow are leaving their 150 acres of undulating organic pasture to serve up their delightful crepes- ham, cheese & truffle aioli; pear, walnut, goats cheese and truffle honey.
The team form Fatto have hopped over the river from their Italian bar and eatery in Southbank to serve up their acclaimed four cheese truffle toastie.
Keeping you warm and energised all weekend with regular and truffled hot drinks, and sweet truffled treats like caramel brownie and truffled hedgehogs.
Tantalise your tastebuds with one of the most popular dishes in France- melted raclette cheese poured on to truffled potatoes with charcuterie and pickles. For a real treat try the special raclette aged with truffle inside.
Kimu offers authentic based family recipes blending Korean and Japanese food with big and bold flavours. Their fresh and healthy flavours now have added truffle!
Born and raised in Le Perigord, France - home of the famous Black Truffle - Joelle Dullac makes the journey south from her truffle farm near Canberra to tempt your taste buds with the intoxicating scent of fresh truffle. Devour her delectable crepes and stock up on La Truffiere's award-winning truffle butter to take home.
Collingwood's Lazerpig will be serving up their classic pizzas created from their unique sourdough culture and wood fired to perfection. Make sure to get your tastebuds around the truffle filled Fun Guy - truffled mushroom puree base, confit garlic, portobello & shimeji mushrooms, taleggio and thyme.
Southbank favourites Left Bank will be serving a range of delectable dishes including Venison Black Truffle Pie, Black Tuffle Artisan Pinsa, Polenta Truffle Fries and Tagliattelle with mascarpone creme and shaved black truffle.
Devour a completely decadent truffle mac and cheese doughnut. Gooey on the inside, fried on the outside, shredded Parmesan and fresh truffle shavings.
Inspired by their European heritage, Simply Spanish's chefs bring a touch of Spain to their award-winning paellas. Special treats for the Festival are a pulled pork paella with artichokes and shaved truffles, and a mixed mushroom paella with winter spinach, broad beans and truffle oil.
Savour a warming four cheese gnocchi with truffle, tossed in a 40kg Parmagiano wheel, or a truffled Porchetta and Caciocavallo cheese roll, then save their famous Sicillian ricotta or chocolate truffled cannoli for later.
Look out for That's Amore's Gelato Cart, serving their luscious artisanal gelato made in-house using local farm fresh milk and traditional Italian recipes and methods.
Collingwood's The Craft & Co will be showcasing their delectable range of house-made cheeses and infused spirits for tasting and taking home.
Mac n' cheese cooked southern style in a big pan with a gourmet twist and made with a secret blend of Melbourne crafted cheeses, twisted up with some tasty toppings for your eating pleasure- including truffle!
Enjoy Wonderbao's legendary handmade fresh steamed buns, with Asian flavours and juicy pork matched with truffle, or why not try their shoestring fries with truffle cheese, chives and truffle mayo.