Oregon Truffle Festival: Truffle dog training and more

If truffles figure in your dreams, tickets just went on sale for the ninth Oregon Truffle Festival. Truffles? Oregon? Well, yes, our northern cousin is actually producing some quite respectable examples. And if you buy your tickets sometime this month, you can take advantage of early-bird pricing.

The theme this year is “Foraged Foods and Fine Fermentations.” Special guests are to be authors Karen Page and Andrew Dornenburg, who practically wrote the book on matching wine with food (“What to Drink with What You Eat.”)

The event is set for Jan. 24-26, which is not all that far off considering how fast this year is rushing to a close. The weekend is stuffed with events, which you can experience a la carte or by purchasing one of the four packages.

The six-course Grand Truffle Dinner on Saturday, Jan. 25 is $200 on its own. Guest chefs include Hiro Sone and Lissa Doumani of Terra restaurant in Napa Valley, along with Justin Wills of Restaurant Beck in Depoe Bay, Ore.; Gregory Gourdet of Departure Restaurant in Portland, Ore.; and Jason Stratton of Spinasse in Seattle.

But it’s not all eating and drinking. You can sign up for a one- or two-day session of truffle dog training with your pooch for $295 or $595.

For something more affordable, drop in for the Oregon Truffle Marketplace. Fifteen dollars at the door buys you truffle and artisan food tastings, a truffle dog demonstration and a lecture series. Pay $5 more and they’ll throw in an Oregon wine tasting as well.

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