Truffle Course
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2024: dates to be announced
Availability: Sign up for our newsletter to receive updates This course for food professionals and keen foodies covers theoretical and practical elements of hunting for and cooking with truffles. You’ll learn about the different types and the life cycle of truffles, see how Riccardo trains young dogs and join Riccardo and his dog Turbo on a truffle hunt. In a cooking lesson, you’ll find out how the different truffles are used in typical Italian cuisine and will cook a meal based on truffles. You’ll find out what to look for in a good truffle and, importantly, what truffle products to avoid. Click on topics below for more information To request a booking form email [email protected] |
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Course at a glance Friday Arrival at Pisa airport or Pisa Centrale train station no later than 2.45 pm (one transfer to B&B will be provided at 2.45 pm) Session 1: Introduction to truffles & truffle hunting: what are truffles and where are the found Welcome dinner cooked by Riccardo and his wife Amanda at their home Saturday Session 2: Truffle hunt & visit habitats of truffles not in season Lunch at Riccardo & Amanda's Session 3: Truffle dogs: history, breeds & methodology of training Dinner at Osteria del Norcino, Montopoli Sunday Session 4: Truffle hunt Session 5: Cooking with truffles: how to clean truffles, how different truffles are used in Italian cuisine, what to avoid. Hands-on cooking lesson preparing typical truffle dishes with Riccardo’s wife Amanda. Lunch: the truffle dishes you cooked Session 6: Sensory analysis of truffles Dinner at our B&B Moscondoro Monday Depart (one transfer from hotel will be provided after 8:00 am) Click on tabs above for more information To request a booking form email [email protected] |
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Friday
Arrive Pisa airport or train station and transfer to B&B Il Moscondoro, Montopoli. One pick-up no later than 14.45 Transfer to the home of Riccardo, truffle hunter and leader of our course. He lives near San Miniato, the hilly area where some of the heaviest and most expensive white truffles have been found Session 1: Introduction to truffles & truffle hunting with Riccardo
Aperitivo & welcome dinner Riccardo & his wife Amanda have prepared a typical Tuscan dinner with truffles in every course (well, no truffle pudding). Saturday Breakfast and transfer to Riccardo’s home Session 2: Truffle hunt
Lunch at Riccardo’s home Session 3: Truffle dogs: history, breeds & methodology of training
Dinner Osteria del Norcino A norcino is a pork butcher and tonight we are treated to the cured pork specialities of the Marianelli family, perfected over five generations. Despite being in a 15th-century palace, the atmosphere is informal and if we’re lucky, some musicians of the town might serenade us with old Tuscan songs. Sunday Breakfast and transfer to Riccardo's home Session 4: Truffle hunt Your second experience of hunting for truffles, perhaps in a different area. Session 5: Cooking with truffles
Lunch eating what you cooked Session 6: Buying and storing truffles
Farewell dinner Typical Tuscan meal prepared by Chef Massimo at our B&B Monday Transfer to Pisa airport or Pisa train station no earlier than 8 am To request a booking form email [email protected] |
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Course Leader
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Riccardo Nicosia
Riccardo is an amateur truffle hunter who devotes much of his spare time to truffles. When he’s not out searching for them in the hills of San Miniato, he’s studying Google Earth and large-scale topography maps looking for likely new sites where they might be found. He has long been interested in botany, mycology and dog training. By now he has built up an enormous body of knowledge which he enjoys sharing with truffle lovers and aspiring truffle hunters through his dog training and truffle hunting courses. Given that his father was a chef, Riccardo’s interest in truffles doesn’t stop with the hunt. He and his wife Amanda are experts on the preparation of classic truffle dishes, the pairing of wines with truffles and good food in general. |
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Course OrganiserErica Jarman
Following Heather’s careers as archaeologist, orchestra and artist manager and chef, she Italianised her name to Erica and came to Lucca to pursue her passion for traditional artisan food. Her tours, inspired by her infectious curiosity, open captivating new worlds to her guests. |
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Il Moscondoro A dog-friendly B&B only 8 minutes from our truffle hunter. Gemma & her husband-chef Massimo welcome you to their rustic farmhouse into which they've inserted comfortable rooms with ensuite baths. Delicious breakfasts and authentic Tuscan dinners. |
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Price Per person 2 people: 2000 Euros each 3 people: 1675 Euros each 4–6 people: 1500 Euros each Includes 3 nights welcoming, relaxing accommodation, en suite bathrooms Local ground transportation for 4 days Daily continental breakfast, 2 lunches, 3 dinners Course lectures and sessions with truffle hunter Cooking lesson with experienced truffle cook Does not include Airfares Travel and cancellation insurance Wine and drinks other than those served with meals, additional meals Personal expenses such as telephone, mini-bar, etc. Meeting points Where: Pisa airport, Pisa Centrale train station When: not later than 14.30 Recommended international travel Nearest airport: Pisa Airlines from UK: British Airways, EasyJet, Ryanair Airlines from other countries: You may have to fly to another European city and take a connecting flight or train to Pisa Centrale. There are good low-cost flights from many European cities. There are better train connections from Roma Termini (about 3.5 hrs) than from Milan. If you need to travel at another time, a taxi can be arranged at your own expense. Departure points Where: Pisa airport, Pisa Centrale train station When: no earlier than 10.00 If you need to travel at another time, a taxi can be arranged at your own expense. Dress Informal. Jeans are acceptable everywhere. Good walking shoes and rain gear required. Weather in November 6–15˚C/43–59˚F, precipitation 122 mm/4.8 in Weather in June 16–29˚C / 61–84˚F, precipitation 23 mm / 1 in Itinerary is subject to change if necessary due to weather or agricultural conditions or other events outside our control. To request a booking form email [email protected] |
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