It was so last year but I still want to write here about my shrine to the white truffle temple.
Alba is the province in the Piedmont region that produces the most famous fungi in the world: the magical tartufo bianco, the white truffle. Many buongustai di cucina (connoiseur of food) from around the world believe the white truffle is the closest thing to the perfect flavor. Alba holds a Fiera del Tartufo festival every year in October to celebrate the harvest of this intoxicating fungi. Apart from the festivi, as the Italian call it, there's a huge fair showing all the produces from the Piedmont region, which includes the wine such as the Asti & Barolo, the game and of course, the truffle. The best part of it is that it is also open to the public for a mere E3. Once you got the ticket, you can taste all the wine and foods inside the fair.
It is customary to put the largest truffle found that year in the entrance of the fair. This giant truffle would be symbolically put atop on a throne and crowned. Red carpet would also be placed for admirer to pay their tribute. To me, this truffle is the Pope. Pictured here is a gentleman named chaxiubao on his half knelt to worship the king of truffle and asking his culinary wishes be granted, e.g., to be able to have a bite on the biggest truffle in the world...
Pictured left is a pair of father and daugther selling their Tartufi D'Alba. You see, though Alba is famous for their white truffle, they also have the black ones in the offer.
