Truffles add twist to Waite dinner fundraiser

Urrbrae House at the University of Adelaide's Waite Campus.
Photo by Chris Tonkin.
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Tuesday, 10 July 2012

Lovers of truffles have the opportunity to be part of a unique gastronomic event at the University of Adelaide's historic Urrbrae House next month.

A Gala Truffle Dinner and auction of fresh truffles will be held on Saturday 4 August to help raise funds for one of Australia's botanic treasures, the Waite Arboretum.

Spanning 30 hectares at Urrbrae on the University's Waite Campus, the Waite Arboretum contains more than 800 species of tree, many of them rare. Special collections include eucalypts, pears and oaks.

The oaks in particular are of interest to truffle farmers the Marshall family, who have sourced a range of acorns from the Arboretum. The acorns will be used to grow oak trees as hosts for the truffles on the Marshalls' farm, Terra Preta Truffles, at Braidwood in New South Wales.

To show their support for the Waite Arboretum, the Marshalls have organised the fundraising dinner, which features premium French black truffles throughout.

French Master Chef Christophe Grégoire of restaurant Les Très Bon in Bungendore, NSW, will prepare a classic four-course meal including truffled Spanish ham, roast truffled willow-fed lamb, truffle cheeses, and crème brûlée with truffles. Wines to complement each course will be included, and diners will also be treated to a truffled vodka.

Chef Christophe and wife Josephine Grégoire will present stories and myths about truffles, while Peter and Kate Marshall will talk about growing truffles and their remarkable truffle-sniffing dog, Sal.

Fresh black truffles from the Marshalls' farm - normally valued at more than $2500 per kilo - will be auctioned on the night.

WHAT: Gala Truffle Dinner
WHERE: Urrbrae House, Waite Campus, University of Adelaide
WHEN: Saturday 4 August 2012
COST: $250 per person - limit of 34 guests. Payment must be made in full to confirm booking. All enquiries and bookings to Beth: bgrich@ozemail.com.au or call (08) 8357 1679.

Funds raised will support the Waite Arboretum. For more information about the Arboretum, visit: www.waite.adelaide.edu.au/arboretum

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