White Truffle from Alba in AURA!

Story and photos by Dr. Michael Lim The Travelling Gourmet TM

The irrepressible and indomitable Travelling Gourmet TM attends the XX Anniversary World Alba White Truffle Charity Auction dinner in…

MERAVIGLIOSO Aura ristorante in historic Singapore’s National Gallery which used to be the Supreme Court. Aura is a fine dining Italian ristorante helmed by mio amico Chef -Owner Guiseppe “Beppe” de Vito.

**The Travelling Gourmet TM and Chef-Owner Beppe de Vito**

Amuse bouche featured 3 types of tiny cute canapes…Baby Carrot with Vermouth Gelee, Baby Radish with Anchovy Crema and Baby Zucchini with Hazelnut Panna Cotta. Really whet my appetite! These were paired with a energising sparkling wine made by the metodo classico which is also used to make champagne. The Millesimato Pas Dose (no dosage of sugar added) Contratto Giuseppe from Canelli in Italy.

White Truffles come from Alba in Piemonte in sunny Italy and is coveted by gourmets worldwide. The Governor of Piemonte, Alberto Cirio, told us all about White Truffles and how they are all natural and cannot be cultivated. Tuba magnatum Pico is the scientific name and to put it very simply, the Truffle is an underground mushroom or hypogeous fungus! They are found by Trifolao or truffle hunters with special dogs who can smell the Truffle.

**The Travelling Gourmet TM and Alberto Cirio, Governor of PIemonte**

The antipasto was appetising Crapaccio of Tuna Belly Rolls with Onion Cream, crunchy air-flown Piedmonte Hazelnuts and with lashings of White Truffle which Chef-Owner Beppe kindly personally grated for me! Truffle has amazing aromas of honey, hay, garlic, spices and more…A lovely red Barbera d’Alba DOC 2012 by Filippo Gallino from Piemonte.

Pasta was next…mouth-watering Delica Pumpkin Tortelli, Cheese Fondue and lashings of aromatic Alba White Truffle. A youthful medium bodied piedmontese Barbaresco DOCG 2106 by Bruno Rocca with red fruit expressions.

**Mio buon amico Chef Beppe kindly shaving White Truffle** **for me**

Before the main course, it was the World White Alba Charity Auction of Truffles and Wines. A gigantic White Truffle of 1005g was auctioned simultaneously in Moscow, Hong Kong and Singapore by Livestream web-link and shown live on TV monitors. It was finally bought by a Hong Kong buyer for 120,000 Euros!

My main course was a medallion of tender and juicy Smoked Grass Fed Beed Tenderloin done medium with Seasonal Vegetables Bagna Cauda. The beef went hand in glove with a classic Barolo with fine tannins, very smooth on the palate and lots of “fruitti di bosco” (fruits of the forest) flavours. It was Barolo Carobric DOCG 2000 by Paolo Scavino of Piedmonte. This wine impressed me!

Dessert Dome of Kalingo Chocolate was very yummie with Raspberry and Caramel Chantilly. A sweet sparkling Asti Spumante Dolce (sweet) DOCG matched well as the chocolate flavour was not overpowering.

Aura has good food and wines. Aura also has fabulous views of the historic Padang and the Singapore City skyline, as well as the “Two Durians” (Esplanade Theatres by the Bay) and the Surfboard of MBS.

Keep calm and enjoy White Truffles! Buon appetito! 🙂

AURA

Level 5 National Gallery

1, St. Andrews Road

Singapore 178957

Tel: 6866 1977

About thetravellinggourmet

As a renowned Travel, Food & Wine Writer he has travelled the world in a keen & indomitable pursuit of exotic delicacies & fine wines. His articles have been published in over 20 prestigious publications, both local & international. Dr. Lim has toured and trained in Wine Evaluation & Oenology in most of the world's top wine producing areas from France to Australia. The Travelling Gourmet says, "Gastronomy has no frontier. These are the gastronomic voyages of The Travelling Gourmet. My unending mission. To explore strange new cuisines, to seek out new wines and new culinary experiences, to boldly go where no gourmet has gone before...." Have pen, will travel. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, recording, or any other information storage & retrieval system, without permission from Dr. Michael Lim The Travelling Gourmet and/or MSN. Material may be works of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents may be true but may also be products of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance whatsoever to actual person or persons, either dead or living, events, or locales may be entirely and purely coincidental and unintentional. No part of this website may be used to villify others or for criminal purposes. Interests: Travel, Food, Wines, Cooking, Wine Appreciation, Parachuting, Languages, Music, Reading, Swimming, Hunting, Ballet, Fencing, Archery, Anthropology and more... The Travelling Gourmet is a copyrighted trademark. All rights and photos reserved. No part may be reproduced without permission.

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