The Bindella Restaurants:

It’s been a challenging year for truffle hunting, says Tanja Pfaffhauser, Head of Marketing for Bindella, the wine and gastronomy company. The mixed summer weather, marked by frequent rain, impacted the season, but quality remains high. However, the limited supply has led to increased prices.

Bindella’s chefs across various locations in Zurich and throughout Switzerland—including the flagship Bindella restaurant near Paradeplatz, Cantinetta Antinori, and Ristorante Ornellaia on Bahnhofstrasse—enhance classic Italian dishes with truffles and create new specialties. The truffle season at Bindella starts at the end of October and runs through mid- to late December, with truffles sourced directly from Piedmont.

If truffles are part of a dish on the menu, they’re included in the price. However, when ordered as an add-on, they currently cost nine Swiss francs per gram. Since truffles are a natural product affected by weather, predicting price changes during the season can be difficult, according to Bindella’s representative.

Truffle lovers will find several upcoming events at Bindella:

- Serata del Tartufo (an insider tip)

Vaulted Cellar at Ristorante Verdi in Bern, November 9 and December 14, 2024

- Festival del Tartufo Bianco d'Alba

Cantinetta Bindella Winterthur, November 1-3, 2024

- Festival del Tartufo bianco

Ristorante Bindella Fribourg, November 1-3, 2024

Truffle Risotto at the Cantinetta Bindella in Winterthur (Image: zVg)

Puro:

Located on Fraumünsterstrasse 25, Puro  anticipates a very high-quality truffle season this year, though current supplies are low, says manager Martin Hudec. Puro sources truffles from three main suppliers in Alba and Tuscany, offering truffle-based dishes from mid-October to the end of December. Last year, thanks to high demand, truffle dishes were available until mid-January.

Puro showcases a variety of truffle delicacies, including a unique twist on tiramisu infused with white truffle.

Currently, the price of truffles at Puro is approximately 13.50 francs per gram, with potential price hikes anticipated as supply decreases and demand grows.

Truffle Spaghetti at Puro (Image: zVg)

 Colaianni:

«The quality and quantity of truffles are excellent this year, better than last year thanks to sufficient rainfall,» says Antonio Colaianni, head chef at Colaianni Restaurants in Zurich. Colaianni sources truffles from four Italian regions; Tuscany, Umbria, Piedmont, and Emilia-Romagna.

Colaianni's truffle season kicks off in early November and lasts until just before Christmas, featuring dishes like truffle pasta, veal-stuffed truffle ravioli, and truffle risotto. Guests often receive off-menu recommendations, such as fried eggs, tartare, or burrata with white truffle.

November 9 is a date to reserve, as Colaianni will host a special five-course dinner for 195 francs, featuring exclusively white truffle dishes.

Truffle creation of top chef Antonio Colaianni (Image: zVg)