Truffle Week is almost here, and National Pasta Day is Oct. 17. What better way to celebrate than with a limited-time tasting menu from Nunzio’s in Collingswood? The offerings feature a special five-course tasting menu where the rarest, most luxurious Italian foodstuff on the planet — white and black truffles — are the stars of the menu.
Truffle dinner selection will run Oct. 12-16 — the start of the truffle season in Northern and Central Italy — and will be offered at $95 per person.
Truffle Week Menu
- Truffled egg toast
- Hand-made, pillow-soft gnocchi studded with white and black truffle cream
- Dover sole and scallop with potato beurre blanc and black truffle shavings
- Veal tenderloin featuring a truffle and mushroom fricassee
- Prosciutto Cotto, polenta and shaved Alba white truffle
- Chocolate truffle dessert
Chef Michael DeLone believes his five-course menu will transport diners on a culinary journey through Tuscany, Umbria and Le Marche through distinctive dishes including truffled egg toast, pillow-soft gnocchi studded with white and black truffle cream, Dover sole and scallop with potato beurre blanc and black truffle shavings, veal tenderloin featuring a truffle and mushroom fricassee, prosciutto Cotto, polenta and shaved Alba white truffle. The menu ends with a truffle of the chocolate kind for dessert.
Truffle facts
- They are not a mushroom, rather, they are a fungus in a league of their own, because they grow underground and near tree roots;
- Fresh black truffles have both summer and winter seasons and may be cultivated year-round;
- Most of the world’s elusive, sought-after white truffles grow in the forests of Northern Italy only from October through December;
- The most expensive truffle sold to date was at auction in 2021 for $118,000. It weighed an impressive 2 pounds;
- Wild pigs were once used to find truffles in the forests because the aromatic compounds that make up truffles are similar to the pigs’ pheromones, which makes them expert finders;
- White truffles cost up to $8,000 dollars per kilogram, while their black counterparts command $1,200 per kilogram.
“I wanted to introduce diners in the area to truffles through this special dinner at the new Nunzio’s,” DeLone stated. “This restaurant celebrates Italy every day with creative and authentic menu items, but I know truffles are very special ingredients rich in culture and history for all Italians. All throughout Italy right now there are innumerable festivals and celebrations of the harvest happening, and I wanted to bring some of that energy and excitement to our tables here.”
Located in the heart of Collingswood, Nunzio’s is an authentic Italian BYOB. Since its new ownership less than a year ago, the restaurant has undergone innumerable changes, ranging from its cuisine and menu to its programming and event offerings. Click here for more information.
