Winter white truffle wonderland

This December, indulge in the most delicious of seasonal winter delicacies with these white truffle dishes. We’ve compiled four restaurants that bring out the best in the coveted Alba White Truffle, which is only available a few months of the year, and found almost exclusively in the northern Italian town of Alba. Rarer than black truffle and sold for astronomical prices, this is the ultimate Christmas treat for the epicurean soul.

Senso Ristorante & Bar

White truffle and Senso’s five-course menu ($298) is a winning combination, with chef Sebastien Donati elevating the extravagant mushroom to greater heights. Start off with the Capesante – pan-seared scallops served with eggplant mousse, green apple, shaved white truffles and truffle dressing – and the Crema di Porri e Patate – cream of potato and leek soup, smoked Pancetta and shaved white truffles. From there you can move on to either the Risotto Ai Tartufi Blanchi – classic Carnaroli risotto with shaved white truffles – or Taglierini Ai Tartufi Blanchi, homemade taglierini with shaved white truffles. The Taglierini Ai Tartufi Blanchi was our personal favourite; understated yet elegant in both flavour and presentation.

For the main course, you can choose between Orata, Gnocchi & Spugnole – sea bream fillet, purple gnocchi, Morel mushrooms, parsnip sauce and shaved white truffle – or the Filetto di Vitello Rossini, beef tenderloin, foie gras, truffle potato puree, Heirloom carrots and shaved white truffle. End with the decadent Monte Bianco, chestnut cream, chantilly cream, meringue, salted caramel, bourbon vanilla ice-cream and shaved white truffles. If five courses is too much, you can also opt for the three (from $168 – $198) or four course (from $228 – $268) White Truffle menus. Diners may also pair each course with wine. Additional Alba White Truffles are available for $20++/gram.

21 Club Street. Tel: 6224 3534.     

Braci and Aura

Renowned restaurateur Beppe de Vito’s luxurious Italian restaurants both offer the option of adding white truffle to any of their dishes. After you’ve finished a touring the National Gallery, head upstairs for dining with a view at Aura. We recommend adding white truffle to one of their signature dishes, such as the Crispy Egg with Sevruga Caviar, Cod and Sea Urchin Custard or the Tagliolini with Scampi, Tarragon and Smoked Paprika. If you prefer something a little more cosy, head to Braci, a one Michelin-starred restaurant which is located in a newly-restored heritage building by the Singapore River and savour their Mayura Wagyu with Truffle, Almond Fondue and Gnocchi or the Venetian Risotto with Langoustine and Zucchini.

For Aura, white truffles are served based on the weight of white truffles requested and it goes at $25++ per gram. Meanwhile for Braci, instead of going by the weight, diners can request to enjoy white truffles on their pastas or risottos, which will be at the starting price of $98++ per dish, and comes with 5 grams of white truffles.

Braci: 52 Boat Quay, 05-01 and 06-01. Tel: 6866 1933.

Aura: 1 St. Andrews Road, 05-03 and 06-02 National Gallery Singapore. Tel: 6866 1977.

Joël Robuchon Restaurant

Make a trip to Sentosa worthwhile and dine at three Michelin-starred Joël Robuchon Restaurant, which offers these beautiful fungi in both the autumn degustation menu and in the main menu. Helmed by new chef de cuisine Kim Joinié-Maurin, the eight-course degustation ($498) offers white truffle as a cold appetiser in the form of La Truffe Blanche, shaved Alba White truffles and potatoes, topped with foie gras carpaccio. In the main menu, diners can experience double happiness with the choice of La Truffe Blanche as an appetiser, and the truffletastic main course Les Spaghetti – Alba White Truffle spaghetti with a soft boiled egg and parmesan shavings.

26 Sentosa Gateway, Hotel Michael, #01-104 & 105. Tel: 6577 7888.