Hongkongers have a tradition of scoring the year’s biggest white truffles at the annual Alba auctions. This year was no exception. A local resident identified only as a Korean woman named Miss Lee upheld that honour, forking out over Euro €90,000 (approx. HK$932,566.5) for two large pieces of white truffle weighting 950 grams.
The auction was held Sunday (Nov. 10) night, as usual, at chef Umberto Bombana’s restaurant Otto e Mezzo BOMBANA. Chef Bombana was officially appointed as the Ambassador of the Alba White Truffle in 2006 but has been involved in all 14 years of the auctions for high quality jumbo truffles from Italy. Whenever the big lots end up in Hong Kong, chef Bombana has the honour of cooking with it.
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At Sunday’s auction, six lots of the fragrant fungus was available totalling 2,865 grams in total. Guests at Sunday’s auction dinner bid for five valuable parcels at the restaurant while the sixth, featuring the two biggest specimens of two truffles was auctioned from Italy at the Hall of Mask at Grinzane Castle, in the heart of the truffle region. The two locations were linked via internet connection.
It’s not just decadent conspicuous consumption though. The dinner and auction was also a charity event with all profits going to Mother’s Choice. Over HK$2.46 million was raised at Sunday’s exclusive dinner and auction of truffles as well as rare Italian wines, many of which were from the Consorzio di Tutela Barolo Barbaresco Alba Langhe e Roero, whose representative Pietro Ratti attended in person.
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Pietro Ratti, representative of Consorzio di Tutela Barolo Barbaresco Alba Langhe e Roero
Possessing an rich inviting aroma, the white truffle is far more prized than the more common (yet still expensive) black truffle. The ultimate foodie luxury, white truffles are only found in the fall, only in a small part of Europe, and only in small quantities. The most renowned region for these delicacy ingredients is Alba, near the Italian Alps.
The pair of giantic white truffle arrived Hong Kong on Tuesday (Nov. 12) with chef Bombana on hand at his restaurant to accept the delivery from Giovanna Cullino, past vice presidente vicario of Centro Nazionale Studi Tartufo.
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Giovanna Cullino, Past Vice Presidente Vicario of Centro Nazionale Studi Tartufo and Chef Umberto Bombana
Famous Hong Kong winning bidders for the year’s biggest white truffles in the past included chairman of Hopewell Holdings Ltd. Sir Gordon Wu who paid HK$1.25 million in 2006 for his gastronomical jewels and wine critic Jeannie Cho Lee who won with a record bid HK$1.12 million in 2010 for a 900 gram giant white truffle.
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Homemade tagliolini with white truffles
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Fassone tenderloin , porcini mushroom, barley risotto with natural jus and white truffles
Chef Bombana and his three Michelin star kitchen will be preparing a menu showcasing the white truffle for Miss Lee and her lucky invited guests for a feast this weekend. No doubt, her Facebook page today will be inundated with lots of new friend requests.
Otto e Mezzo BOMBANA
Shop 202, Landmark Alexandra
18 Chater Road, Central, Hong Kong
Tel: 2537 8859
