If you're looking for truffle, you came to the right place: Capital Region Truffle Festival launches a bumper season

The Capital Region Truffle Festival has officially launched its 2024 season of activities with an event at the EAST Hotel. Now in its 17th year, the festival is the longest-running truffle festival in Australia.

The festival is run by Southern Harvest – a local food and farming co-operative – that works closely with sponsors EAT Truffle Collective and a group of local truffle growers. It aims to celebrate all things truffle in the region, and encourage restauranteurs and home cooks to embrace this unique seasonal ingredient.

EAT Truffle Collective representative and local truffle grower Wayne Haslam explained that the climate and limestone soil around Canberra are well suited to growing truffles, as it’s a match for traditional truffle-growing regions in Europe.

“In the last 25 years, [Australia] has become the fourth largest producer of black truffles in the world and our reputation is one of the best in the world,” he said.

“On the East Coast, we are all smallholder growers.”

Southern Harvest President Louise Rose spoke passionately about seasonal produce available in the Canberra region and encouraged everyone to enjoy what winter has to offer.

“Winter is alive in our region: this is the time we feast!” she said.

“We’re very lucky to have truffles on our doorstep, and Southern Harvest is pleased to be working with local truffle growers … This is the perfect time to showcase truffles, stored harvest veggies and new vintages from local wineries.”

The truffle festival will promote the activities of truffle farms putting on truffle hunts, as well as local restaurants featuring truffles on their menu. There are plenty of seasonal feasts already planned for the coming months, with more added regularly as the season progresses. Restaurants such as The Italian Place, Contentious Character Urban Cellar Door, and Agostinis at EAST Hotel already have truffle dinners planned. Others like Otis Dining Hall, Poachers Pantry and newcomer Compa &Sando will be featuring truffles on their menus throughout winter.

Truffle season typically lasts from mid-June until late August, depending on the weather, so there are plenty of opportunities to get involved in truffle activities.

A new event as part of the truffle festival is the Winter Market, held at Dairy Road on 28 July. This market will showcase the best seasonal produce alongside local food trucks, winemakers and more.

Renowned French chef Christophe Gregoire will be hosting two ticketed cooking demonstrations at the market, and there are plans for truffle dog demonstrations and performances from local artists.

The Chief Minister described the market as an exciting element of the truffle festival, explaining that promoting tourism to Canberra in Winter had historically been a “hard sell”.

“Truffle Festival is a key part of bringing people to Canberra in Winter,” he said.

“The festival has been successful over such a long time because it brings different players together in a really compelling event: growers, chefs, breweries, wineries … gourmet winter food.”

Canberrans are encouraged to attend a truffle hunt at one of the many truffle farms in the region and to support restaurants showcasing truffles with winter feasts and seasonal menus.

Further details about Truffle Festival events, like truffle hunts, truffle dinners and the Winter Market can be found at the Southern Harvest website. Or follow the Truffle Festival – Capital Region on Facebook.

Lucy Ridge is also an employee of Southern Harvest.