Eugene, OR – Tickets are now on sale for the 11th annual Oregon Truffle Festival which returns for three fungi?filled weekends this January beginning with the Joriad™ North American Truffle Dog Championship (January 16?17), moving to an exploration of the terroir of Yamhill Valley truffle and wine country (January 22?24), and concluding with the festival’s popular Eugene weekend of events to close out the festivities (January 29?31). Tickets are available at oregontrufflefestival.com.
Oregon’s agricultural bounty is gaining prominence worldwide. From our hazelnuts and our world-renowned wines to our award winning cheeses and truffles, Oregon’s most iconic ingredients are sought out by chefs and gourmands alike from around the globe. “The media spotlight on Oregon has never been stronger,” says Dr. Charles Lefevre, festival organizer, mycologist and founder of New World Truffieres, “…that attention that has helped elevate the status of the Willamette Valley to that of a world-class truffle region. Celebrating truffles gives us pride of place: not only for the truffles themselves but for the amazing array of Oregon ingredients that we are able to showcase alongside them throughout the festival.” The Oregon Truffle Festival has honored the cultural and culinary importance of native truffles for over a decade through a variety of sumptuous culinary events, tasting showcases, cooking classes, truffle demonstrations and educational seminars.
The 2016 festival welcomes a number of new and expanded experiences. The Joriad™ North American Truffle Dog Championship returns for the second year to commemorate both the festival kickoff and the official start to the truffle season with its ever?popular canine competition on Saturday, January 16th. The festival’s presenting winery sponsor Willamette Valley Vineyards will host the Joriad™ Awards Gala on Sunday, January 17th where guests can meet and greet with the Joriad™ finalists while enjoying small plates featuring Oregon black and white truffles paired with the best Willamette Valley Vineyards wines.
Additional epicurean adventures are in store January 22?24 for Newberg/Yahmill Valley weekend goers who can choose from one of two weekend ticket packages: The Terroir of Truffles or Bringing It Home. Guests won’t want to miss Shaved & Infused, Friday’s premiere tasting event at the Chehalem Cultural Center’s Grand Ballroom featuring Portland talents Elias Cairo of Olympia Provisions and Gregory Gourdet of Departure Restaurant. A la carte tickets are available for both the Newberg Fresh Truffle Marketplace (1/24) and the individual Black & White Dinners (1/23), a multi?course dinner series hosted by five of Yamhill Valley’s best restaurants that will highlight the best of Oregon’s black and white truffles.
The festival concludes January 29?31 in Eugene with its popular marquee events: The Grand Truffle Dinner (1/30), a six-course truffle-filled feast prepared by celebrated chefs with Oregon wine pairings; the internationally acclaimed Truffle Growers Forum (1/29?1/30), which brings together renowned truffle expertise to discuss recent developments across the industry; the Truffle Dog Training Seminar (1/29?1/30), the first event of its kind that gives participants a hands-on opportunity to train their canines to detect the scent of valuable ripe truffles in their natural habitat; the Eugene Fresh Truffle Marketplace (1/31), a unique tasting and demonstration experience that brings together fresh ripe Oregon truffles, regional wines, artisan foods, and craft products; and To Market, To Market: Celebrating Oregon’s Winter Bounty (1/29), a new walk around tasting event at Chef Stephanie Pearl Kimmel’s brand new Provisions Market Hall.
Additional festival details and participants will be announced throughout October.
Festival Lineup & Details
A complete list of events, participants, and ticket information can be found at oregontrufflefestival.com. Weekend packages are available for both the Newberg/Yamhill and Eugene weekends. Events and chefs will continue to be added through October.
Festival Sponsors & Partners
The Oregon Truffle festival is proud to have 1859 Magazine as its presenting media sponsor, the Chehalem Cultural Center as its Newberg/Yamhill host sponsor and the Hilton Eugene as its Eugene host sponsor. The festival is also generously supported by its presenting winery sponsors Willamette Valley Vineyards and Erath Winery. Additional winery luncheon sponsors include Argyle Winery, Brandborg Vineyard and Winery, Gran Moraine Winery, Iris Vineyards, Lady Hill Winery, Penner-Ash Wine Cellars and Pfeiffer Vineyards. OTF is also proud to partner with Bolted Services, Chehalem Valley Chamber of Commerce, Cooks Pots & Tabletops, Travel Lane County, Hotel Rose Portland, James Beard Public Market, New World Truffieres, Travel Oregon, Travel Portland, Willamette Valley Visitors Association, Wine Country Cooking Studio, and Market Hall Foods.
About The Oregon Truffle Festival
The Oregon Truffle Festival is North America’s premier event for truffle culinary appreciation and education. Held every January, the festival attracts thousands of culinary tourists, growers, dog trainers, scientists, and media from all over the globe. The event was founded in 2006 by renowned mycologist Dr. Charles K. Lefevre and his wife, Leslie Scott. Today, the team is rounded out with culinary director Charles Ruff, who has been a part of the festival since its inception. Now in its 11th year, this dynamic and participatory truffle festival continues to innovate as it stays ahead of the industry growing around it.
More info can be found at www.oregontrufflefestival.com or at www.facebook.com/oregontrufflefestival.
Source: The Oregon Truffle Festival
