Last night was epic. For two reasons. First of all, I spent more money than I ever have on a meal. Secondly, I smelled and tasted my first white truffle ever...straight from the forests of Northern Italy. I know, I know. Get beyond the elitism of the event, though...and read on.

The truffle pictured above is the one that we bought for the table. It was the size of a medium walnut and cost a mere $7/gram. It was 11 grams...roughly the weight of two quarters (I just checked this fact on the scale in my lab)...you do the math. It was one expensive piece of fungus!! The smell was indescribable...pungent, stinky, woodsy, winey, deep...like nothing I had ever smelled before. Look at the baby's expression below as she smelled the truffle!

Louie, Chelsea, Ella and I had been planning for weeks to go to the Truffle Dinner at Oliveto in Oakland. For four nights each year, the restaurant features a meal based on the truffles that the owners themselves have foraged for in Piedmont, Umbria or Tuscany in Northern Italy. Reservations must be made at least a few weeks in advance, which was fun for me because it just built the anticipation.

We tried a variety of things on the menu. We started with four antipasti, and I tried most of them: a Sea Scallops, Oysters, Octopus and Mussels with Root Vegetables and Black Truffles; Poached Salted Farm Egg with Cardoons, Celery, Black Trumpet Mushrooms and fonduta voldostana; and a Sformatino of 'Sugar Pie' Pumpkin with 'castlemango' cheese and walnuts. Before we started eating, our waitress came over and shaved part of our white truffle onto the appetizers with a tiny mandoline. Alone, the truffle shavings were rather subtle. But when paired with something warm, their flavor escaped and danced through our mouths. We then shared two pastas: 'Kabocha' squash gnocchi with Georgia White Shrimp, Bay Scallops and Chanterelle Mushrooms; and the Ravioli of Roasted Root Vegetables, Beef Marrow and Chives. The ravioli was simple and unadorned, but perfectly delicate and full of flavor...I couldn't really taste any Beef Marrow, for which I was glad...both dishes were delicious. Chelsea and Louie ended with the Spit-Roasted Farm Pigeon...with its little feet still on! They are truly brave. Dessert was also good...but to be honest, by that time I was truffled out and overwhelmed from the earlier sensory feast...my poor taste buds could judge no more.

The last surprise came when the bill arrived. With tax and tip, we spent $400.00 amongst the three of us!! Yikes. I'm not sure anyone knew quite what to say. We had to agree, though, that it was a once-in-a-lifetime experience that we were glad we'd had, despite the fact that we'll all be eating very very humbly in the months to come :)