The most decadent winter festival in the State, the 10th annual Truffle Kerfuffle is set to be the biggest celebration for truffle lovers in the event's history.
Held in the most prolific truffle growing region in the Southern Hemisphere, the festival is a true celebration of Manjimup's prized black truffles, sought-after by chefs across the globe for their consistent high quality, impossible-to-describe taste and heady, earthy aroma.
French-born Guillaume Brahimi is an awarded chef, restauranteur, author and philanthropist. He trained under Michelin-starred chef Joel Robuchon in Paris before moving to Sydney in the 1990s. He opened Guillaume at Bennelong, which garnered international recognition and won almost every major accolade in Australian food from its opening in 2001 until last service in 2013. Brahimi is the Culinary Ambassador at Crown Sydney, he has Bistro Guillaume at Crown Melbourne and Perth and also opened one in Sydney's CBD.
Brahimi's awards are as long as they are prestigious. He was awarded Vittoria Legend Award for outstanding long-term contribution to the restaurant industry in 2014, received the Chevalier de l'Ordre National du Merite (Knight of the National Order), a prestigious honour endowed by the French government in 2014 and named Chef of the Year at the annual GQ Men Of The Year awards in 2015. He has written three cookbooks, is a board member charity 'Bestest Foundation' raising millions of dollars for disadvantaged youth, and he is the host of SBS's food series, Plat du Tour.
Brahimi said he is really looking forward to being part of Truffle Kerfuffle in 2021.
“What better way to spend a winter weekend than celebrating and hunting for world class Australian black truffles. The Australian Truffle industry has been a big contributor on the culinary scene, and I am excited to be showcasing them at this year's event,” the French-born chef said.
Guillaume Brahimi presents the first dining event of Truffle Kerfuffle, a long table rustic feast for the senses featuring the best Southern Forests seasonal produce, beautiful wine, and generous amounts of fresh black truffle in celebration of the winter solstice.
Joining Brahimi is renowned and awarded chef Analiese Gregory, former executive chef of Franklin in Hobart. Originating from New Zealand, Gregory gained experience in some of Europe's best kitchens including The Ledbury, Le Meurice, Mugartiz, and Michel Bras as well as five years at Quay working alongside Peter Gilmore.
At the 'Wild Things' dinner on Saturday night, named in tribute to her cookbook 'How wild things are', Analiese Gregory will create a memorable dining experience of slow food and story, on cooking, fishing and hunting at the bottom of the world. Her menu will pay homage to Manjimup's freshly unearthed black truffle paired with matched wines.
The stellar line up of local culinary talent heading to the Southern Forests region includes WA's very own Aaron Carr, Tony Howell, Kenny McHardy, Brendon Pratt, Paul Iskov, David Coomer, Sue Lewis and Sophie Budd.
After a five-year hiatus from Truffle Kerfuffle, Kenny McHardy of Fremantle's Manuka Woodfire Kitchen returns, teaming up with Aaron Carr from Dunsborough's Yarri, for 'The Truffle Hunters Brunch'. Down-to-earth McHardy will also hold a Chef's Cabin masterclass.
“It's such a luxury for us to have high-quality truffles, a premium ingredient, produced in our backyard - I look forward to truffle season every winter and can't wait to celebrate it in Manjimup,” McHardy said.
“To me, Truffle Kerfuffle is more than bringing people to Manjimup, it's about connecting them to farmers and producers. Truffles are the lure, but there's a lot more to Manjimup than people think, it's a chance to get out of the city for the weekend, meet some farmers and taste some beautiful produce, all while having a great time.”
Event attendees can gather around the kitchen bench and get to know truffles better, or perhaps a favourite chef, at the intimate Chef's Cabin masterclass sessions that combine learning with tasting in a small group setting.
Sharing recipes, knowledge with lots of tips and tricks, the limited Chef's Cabin consists of six masterclasses, each run by awarded chef including McHardy along with former chef now truffle farmer David Coomer, acclaimed Vasse Felix executive chef Brendan Pratt and Le Rebelle's Liam Atkinson. Hosted by Gourmet Traveller's Max Veenhuyzen, the Chef's Cabin masterclasses are renowned for personal connections, flowing conversations and include fine wine.
With good food, comes good wine, and State Buildings sommelier and wine expert Emma Farrelly is curating the Truffle Kerfuffle wine program and running the Wine Shed Sessions that include up to six tastings of some of the best regional wine.
Festival President Jeremy Beissel said that this year's Truffle Kerfuffle can't come soon enough.
“It will be two years since we've been able to rug up and mingle around the fire pit, indulge in long table feasts in good company, surrounded by great food and the unmistakable mouth-watering smell of fresh truffles,” Beissel said.
“The pandemic has been a frustrating time and we're really looking forward to welcoming visitors to Manjimup, to bringing locals together and celebrating all the great things about the Southern Forest region.
“As a Board, we're raring to go and we expect tickets to sell fast,” he said
Besides delectable dining events and fireside cooking sessions in the Chef's Cabin, there'll be truffle dog demonstrations and truffle hunts, free cooking demonstrations with chef Tony Howell and acclaimed chefs, free kids cooking classes with chef Sophie Budd, wine sessions, beer masterclasses and spirit tastings, an undercover Marketplace where you can meet local farmers, producers, winemakers and the community that make up the Southern Forests region, plus plenty of truffle-laden dishes to try and buy, music and more.
Held in the most prolific truffle growing region in the Southern Hemisphere, the festival is a true celebration of Manjimup's prized black truffles, sought-after by chefs across the globe for their consistent high quality, impossible-to-describe taste and distinctive heady, earthy aroma.
Truffle Kerfuffle is proudly supported by the Western Australian State Government through Tourism WA's Regional Events Program, Fonty's Pool, Australian Truffle Traders and Truffle Hill.
Secure tickets now and book your winter escape in the magical surrounds of the Southern Forests.
Date: 25 - 27 June 2021
Location: Fonty's Pool, Manjimup, Western Australia
www.trufflekeruffle.com.au
About Truffle Kerfuffle
A weekend long celebration of truffle season at the heart of Australian truffle country. Join truffle hunters to search out prized truffles, visit the Marketplace for a taste of the region or get your truffle fix at special dining events. Indulge in fireside cooking sessions in the Chef's Cabin, catch free demonstrations and entertainment on the festival grounds; discover the farmers, producers, winemakers and community that make up the Southern Forests, or simply soak up the laid back atmosphere. From its initial beginnings in 2011, Truffle Kerfuffle (a not for profit community event) has grown into a highlight of the Australian tourism calendar and is on the to-do list of many a traveller and gourmand.Truffle:
The black truffle (Tuber melanosporum) is prized for its rarity and beguiling aroma, more than 80 per cent of premium black truffles produced in Australia come from the Southern Forests. As the largest producer in the southern hemisphere the region has secured its place on the global culinary map. Truffle season is short, from June to August.Travel:
The Southern Forests is a scenic 3.5-hour drive from Perth or 90 minutes from Margaret River. The undulating landscape is a mix of ancient Karri forests, rivers and farmland, bordered by the Southern Ocean.Website: www.theholidayandtravelmagazine.blogspot.com.au
Website: www.australiassouthwest.com
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