You can eat this at the festival.

When most people think of gourmet truffles, a cinematic image of the misty hills of Italy or France most likely comes to mind. Pigs, too, will probably appear in this mental scene, the humble breadwinners of the world’s most expensive fungus.

In my last article about truffles, I mentioned all of these things and more. As truffle culture continues to evolve, however, the spotlight shines more and more on what has, until now, been a largely overlooked source of this culinary delicacy: Oregon.

For the past century, scientists have held Oregon to be the leading center of truffle research and expertise outside of Europe. Perfect climate, soil and species of trees combine to produce domestic specimens whose taste rivals those of France and Italy. With the advent of new forms of cultivation technology and sustainable agricultural practices, Oregon’s potential for industry growth is something that many truffle professionals and fans around the world anticipate with excitement.

The Sixth Annual Oregon Truffle Festival, on January 28th -31st, celebrates the joys of truffling. Held in Eugene, Oregon, it is a weekend filled with delightful events designed to cultivate the curious as well as entertain and educate seasoned truffle veterans. Each weekend event plan, called an “experience,” is tailored to your level of familiarity with underground fungi. As of now, registration for Experience One is still open – and great for those of you who are just beginning your adventures. Be sure to check out Friday’s event, SLOW: The Taste of Authenticity, an evening of “delicious food, gorgeous art, and the sensory life of truffles intertwined!”

For those of you who are interested in a little bit of this and a little bit of that, the Oregon Truffle Marketplace might just be the event you are seeking. $20 will buy you truffle tastings, artisan foods, fresh truffles, a lecture series, a truffle-sniffing dog demonstration and a commemorative Oregon Truffle Festival Riedel wine glass as well as wine tastings from six or more of Oregon’s best wineries. Definitely an excellent deal!

So, if you are looking for truly gourmet tastes and have some time at the end of this month, plan ahead (tickets sell quickly!) and stop by Eugene, Oregon. You’ll be in for a delight.

CC image courtesy of Spencers Brook Farm on flickr

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1. A Truffle the Size of a Soccer Ball
2. Wild Dining Part 2: When Wild Dining meets Fine Dining
3. Do you want to Savor Seattle?
4. Welcome to eating adventures
5. How to Organize a Wine Tour