If you’re a fan of truffles, the subterranean fungi that are a staple of haute cuisine, you understand that they are normally a rare treat because they are just so darned scarce and expensive. Many people don’t realize that truffles actually have a season, and we just so happen to be in the middle of white truffle season, when specially trained truffle dogs locate the elusive white tubers deep beneath the ground around Alba, Italy.
To celebrate this occurrence, Santo in Green Hills has planned a gala White Truffle Dinner for Tuesday, Dec. 3. The first thing to note is the shocking price. It’s $500 per person. A measure of just how special this dinner will be is the comparison between Santo’s average per plate charge of $25 to $35 and the fare for this event. That’s like The Catbird Seat charging five grand for a dinner or Sonic selling a $50 chili dog.
But this is all to say that what Santo is undertaking is a pretty big deal. Looking at the details of the dinner, owner Maher Fawaz has contracted with his New York City-based truffier to import an astounding quantity of white truffles that Santo will shave tableside and rain down upon five of the six courses of this ambitious dinner menu. The food will be iconic dishes of the Piedmont region of Italy, the state where Alba and all those amazing truffles can be found. The food will be rich as a Rockefeller, ranging from torchons of foie gras to protein courses of rabbit, halibut and veal wrapping up with two sweet courses of chestnut crepes and dark chocolate and cherries.
Each course will be paired with Piemontese, home to some of Italy’s most upscale varieties like Barbaresca and Barolo. Santo hopes to make this an annual celebration of truffle season, but you should go ahead and treat it like a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to experience a luxurious dinner with some really rare wines on the ground floor of an apartment building in Green Hills. If you’ve got the cabbage, and you’re looking for a sumptuous splurge to end the year, this should be a truly special dinner. If you’re still not convinced, or if you just want to see how the 1-percenters eat, take a peek at the menu below:
Cena al Tartufo Bianco
3 December, 2019
divertire la bocca
Arancini al Tartufo
Gosset, Brut, “Grande Réserve,” Champagne, FR, NV
I.
Canovaccio di Foie Gras
foie gras torchon, apple
Ceretto, “Blangè,” Arneis, Langhe, Piemonte, IT, 2017
II.
Coniglio e Cavoli
rabbit, cabbage
Iuli, “Nino”, Pinot Nero, Monferrato, Piemonte, IT, 2012
III.
Ippoglosso Fritto e Porri Fusi
crispy halibut, melted leeks
Marchesi di Barolo, “Serragrilli,” Barbaresco, Nebbiolo, Piemonte, IT, 2012
IV.
Petto di Vitello al Vino Rosso
braised veal, cipollini onion
Luigi Oddero, “Vigna Rionda,” Barolo, Nebbiolo, Piemonte, IT, 2008
V.
Crepes di Castagne, Stracchino, e Miele di Castagne
chestnut crêpe, stracchino, chestnut honey
Voerzio Martini, “Lamorrina,” Freisa, Langhe, Piemonte, IT, 2016
VI.
Cioccolato Amaro e Amarene
dark chocolate, amarena cherries
Cordero di Montezemolo, Barolo Chinato, Piemonte, IT, MV
Reservation times are available from 5 to 9 p.m. and will be limited to just 50 diners. All tickets must be paid for in advance. To secure your reservation, email doss@santonashville.com.
