All hail the mighty truffle
Nothing says winter like the unmistakable waft of truffle. Fragrant, rich and pricey, it’s one of the most luxurious ingredients out there. The ancient Greeks called it the food of the Gods – a title upheld today by its legions of fans. As food writer Rowan Jacobsen told us: ‘Truffles have been revered as having the greatest aroma of any natural food since Ancient Roman times, and they have been a staple on luxury restaurant tables since the 1800s.’ With truffle season in full swing, we’ve rounded up the best places to eat it across the capital.
Where To Eat Truffle in London
45 Jermyn St.
Fortnum & Mason’s Piccadilly favourite 45 Jermyn St. is inspired by the ‘golden age of glamour’, with sophisticated interiors and an upmarket modern British menu. It always goes big come truffle season, with a dedicated menu on offer. This includes the restaurant’s much-loved showstopper: a truffle cheese toastie, a dish whose recipe has been perfected over the years to get that delightful gooey ‘pull’. There’s also tagliatelle and risotto, plus an interesting malt ice cream dessert – with all truffle shaved at the table.
45 Jermyn St, St. James’s, London SW1Y 6DN; 45jermynst.com
Sette by Scarpetta
Located within the Bulgari Hotel in Knightsbridge, Sette by Scarpetta is a glitzy New York import serving high-end Italian food made with premium ingredients. During the winter, the restaurant incorporates white truffle from Italy into its menu, with dishes on offer at the moment including homemade taglioni tossed in butter, and risotto served with butter and parmesan.
4 Knightsbridge Green, London, UK SW1X 7QA; settelondon.co.uk
Bocca di Lupo
A charming Italian trattoria in the heart of Soho, Bocca di Lupo has won numerous accolades since opening in 2008. Its ever-changing menu brings the best of Italy’s distinctive regional specialties to London, so of course they bring out the goods come truffle season. This year, guests are being invited to BYOT (bring your own truffle) to shave over their choice of dish, which you can purchase at the restaurant’s sister gelateria Gelupo. Each day, the team will mark a ‘T’ on the dishes that are best suited – but you can pick any dish you fancy.
12 Archer St, London W1D 7BB; boccadilupo.com
Harry’s Bar
Italian hotspot Harry’s Bar on James Street is serving up a dedicated white black truffle menu this winter, complete with suggested wine pairings. For starters, there’s burrata from Puglia or raw beef carpaccio. Then, for mains, mega-fans can choose from taglioni with parmesan and butter, pizza with mushrooms and mascarpone, or risotto – all doused in a good helping of the luxe ingredient.
30-34 James Street, Marylebone, London W1U 1ER; harrys-bar.co.uk
Gloria
Jérôme Galland
Befitting of the larger than life Italian restaurant, Gloria’s truffle offering is wonderfully decadent. The Mafaldine Al Tartufo dish is one of its signature offerings, featuring fresh malfadine pasta cooked with marscapone and flecked with black Molise truffle shavings and button mushrooms. Craving pizza? There’s a black truffle-infused one of those too, made with fior di latte, mushroom carpaccio, black truffle and parmesan.
54-56 Great Eastern St, London EC2A 3QR; bigmammagroup.com
Park Chinois
It doesn’t get much more sumptuous than Park Chinois, a Chinese fine dining restaurant in Mayfair where you can watch live performances while you eat. Descend the iconic red staircase and tuck into the signature Duck de Chine, which can be paired with winter truffle (and caviar, if you’re feeling particularly lavish). Elsewhere on the menu you’ll find black truffle dumplings, and potted rice with seasonal black truffle.
17 Berkeley St, London W1J 8EA; parkchinois.com
Duck & Waffle
Sky-high restaurant Duck & Waffle has transformed into a winter wonderland for the season, complete with snow-covered trees and glittery décor. It has also given its menu a festive shake-up, with a selection of truffle-infused dishes on offer. Choose from a porcini mushroom ravioli with shaved winter truffle, or a decadent cheddar souffle topped with the ingredient. Diners can also choose to add it to their fries. All this is to be enjoyed alongside unrivalled views of the city skyline.
110 Bishopsgate, London EC2N 4AY; duckandwaffle.com
Sparrow
Uber-cool new Mayfair eatery Sparrow serves up Mediterranean food with an LA twist amid sleek surroundings. The restaurant recently launched a seasonal truffle menu, complete with dishes like Pane Al Tartufo: a truffle feast made with grilled focaccia, ricotta and honey. There’s also risotto with black Umbrian truffle and parmesan, and even a truffle ice cream, served alongside chocolate mousse.
1-3 Avery Row, London W1K 4AJ; sparrowitalia.com
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