For foodies and restauranteurs, the annual Australian truffle season is akin to the festive season. It’s a time of exceptional food and coming together to celebrate, and it is officially in full swing once again this year.
Here’s a little more about what truffle season entails in Australia, why we love it so much, and how we’re celebrating this year at 6HEAD.
What is Truffle Season?
The Australian black truffle is the same species as the European black winter truffle, and is also known as the Périgord truffle. They are one to three inches in size, and typically become perfectly ripe within 24 to 48 hours of being unearthed.
Truffle season occurs in Australia every winter from early June to late August.
It’s the time of year when the weather conditions are just right for the Australian black truffle. Growers across the country harvest their produce to offer restaurants and foodies more of these delicious morsels.
However there’s more to growing truffles than getting the season right. Truffles grow underground, and only around the roots of certain types of trees and under the right soil condition. Producers must take care to cultivate the trees and the soil just as much as they cultivate the truffles.
In Australia, producers typically use oak trees to grow truffles, but they can also grow with hazel, poplar, beech, and pine trees.
Not to mention, it takes a minimum of five years for truffles to begin growing after the trees have been planted.
The resulting truffles offer a totally unique flavour and aroma profile. They are pungent, earthy, and musky. They have a powerful umami flavour, which works beautifully in an array of dishes to elevate the main ingredient and provide the diner with a truly special dining experience.
Due to the difficulty in cultivating truffles, their rarity, and indescribable flavours, truffles are extremely highly sought after here in Australia and around the world. For the few months where they are more easily available, the country celebrates with truffle tasting sessions, festivals, hunts, and special dinners.
Of course, as one of Sydney’s premier fine dining restaurants, 6HEAD is also marking the occasion.
How we're celebrating the season at 6HEAD
As the winter harvest begins and we celebrate the season’s most beloved ingredient, 6HEAD chefs get together to curate a menu dedicated to truffles and everything they have to offer.
There are two main courses to choose from. Try a Braised Beef & Truffle Pie for the ultimate winter warmer dish, or opt for the Fresh Bucatini Cacio Pepe. A richly delicious pasta dish that lets the truffle flavours and aromas shine.
Additionally, you can choose any steak from the menu and add both fresh truffle and truffle butter to further uplift your meal.
A side of truffle chips is also available for those who want to complement their truffle main with more of this exquisite ingredient.
And to prove the truffle truly does go with everything, our chefs have created the perfect sweet ending to your meal. A truffle choux & mousse, with pistachio sponge, chocolate soil, a dark chocolate and caramel sauce, and an oak wood diplomat cream and fresh truffle.
Make your booking at 6HEAD
Truffle season lasts for three months but passes so quickly every year. Don’t let the occasion pass you by this year – make a booking at 6HEAD for any time between now and the end of August to taste the beloved truffle as prepared by some of the best chefs in Australia.
Make your booking at 6HEAD today.
