If your current weekend plans consist of a 5am wake-up on Saturday to watch the mighty Socceroos take on the trash-talking Americans, you’re already halfway towards an excellent day. To complete the experience, may we suggest making a booking at Civico 47’s Truffle Luncheon?
After all, football may be the beautiful game, but come truffle season, the humble funghi becomes the beautiful ingredient.
Much like the World Cup transforms arm chair viewers who don’t know the difference between Pique and a penalty into experts, every year around June, a strange thing also happens to otherwise rational Australians.
People who would ordinarily happily eat schnitzels and takeaway Thai suddenly become amateur truffle experts. They start discussing aroma profiles. They begin referring to fungi as “luxurious”. Someone inevitably posts a close-up photo of shaved truffle on Instagram with the same level of pride normally reserved for a newborn child.
In short: truffle season is back. And if you’re going to lean into the annual obsession, you may as well do it properly.
That’s where Civico 47 comes in.
Following the sell-out success of its annual Truffle Dinner, the Italian restaurant has added a special Saturday Truffle Luncheon for those of us who prefer our culinary pilgrimages with a side of sleeping in.
Chef Matteo Zamboni has created a five-course menu celebrating Australian black truffles in all their earthy, intoxicating glory. Inspired by the traditions of his homeland, the menu showcases the ingredient through a series of refined Italian dishes designed to let the truffle take centre stage.
The headline act is Matteo’s famous truffle risotto.
And honestly, fair game. Afterall, whether folded through creamy rice, freshly shaved over silky pasta, or paired with good Parmigiano, truffles have a way of making every other winter ingredient feel like it’s simply participating.
Coming of the bench with equal impact is Civico 47’s tagliolini with truffle butter, Parmigiano and fresh truffle. One look at the dish is enough to make you reconsider any plans involving meal prep, leftovers or sensible financial decisions.
Then comes the wildcard. Because apparently nobody told Matteo that truffles are supposed to stop at savoury courses.
For this year’s event, guests will finish with a specially created truffle tiramisu. It’s the sort of dessert that sounds slightly confusing when you first hear about it and completely logical after the first spoonful.
And, if you’re feeling inspired to bring some truffle magic into your own kitchen afterwards, Matteo’s advice is refreshingly simple. Try pairing truffles with butter first. The aroma is fat-soluble, which means butter helps unlock all those rich, earthy flavours. Serve them over something neutral like pasta, potatoes or polenta and let the truffle do the talking.
In other words: don’t overcomplicate things. This is one of the rare occasions in life where adding more butter is genuinely considered expert advice.
So if your Saturday starts with football, coffee and nervous pacing around the television, consider rewarding yourself afterwards with a long lunch dedicated to winter’s most gloriously over-the-top ingredient.
Because there are only so many weekends in truffle season. And if you’re not spending at least one of them eating truffle risotto and pretending you’re somewhere in Northern Italy, you’re arguably missing the point.
The Details
What: Truffle Luncheon at Civico 47
When: Saturday 20 June
Where: Civico 47, Sydney
Menu: $185pp
Wine Pairing: $75pp
Non-Alcoholic Pairing: $55pp
Bookings are essential via civico47.com.
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