America's First Annual Truffle Fest Will Be a North Carolina Affair

January 12, 2009

If you have a truffle obsession, beware! Tickets are now on sale for the first annual National Truffle Fest - a March 5-8, 2009 culinary event to be held in Asheville, North Carolina

ASHEVILLE, NC, October 12, 2009 /24-7PressRelease/ -- The North American Truffle Growers Association (NATGA) [http://www.trufflegrowers.com] is holding the FIRST Annual National Truffle Fest [http://www.NationalTruffleFest.com] - right at the peak of the truffle's perfection. Hundreds of truffle growers and aficionados will gather at the Biltmore Estate in Asheville, North Carolina from March 5th through 8th, 2009.

Not only is the North Carolina truffle industry going great guns, but we won't have long to wait until we taste the first Asheville-grown truffles. The three-day fest features fresh truffles, fresh talent, and fabulous flavors for true truffle enthusiasts and those epicurious folks intrigued by the rare mushroom. Detailed information and registration information is available at http://www.NationalTruffleFest.com.

Held amid the tranquility of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Asheville is ready to show us they know all about fine wine and dining. Guests can view the art exhibition entitled "The Interpretation of the Truffle" where amateur celebrity and professional artists compete for top prize.

Guests are offered cooking demonstrations, tasting dinners, competitive cook-offs, truffle-dog hunting, and sampling of the very best truffles North America has to offer. Regional bands will round out the entertainment, creating the excitement and energy that food and wine enthusiasts enjoy.

The National Truffle Fest will feature prolific truffle growers in North America and beyond, including Jose Barbarín, General Manager, Arotz, Soria, Spain, the largest truffle orchard in the world with 350,000 truffle trees; Rosario Safina, author and founder of da Rosario Truffle Products; Tom Michaels, PhD, Tennessee Truffles, Tim Terry, Truffles Australis speaking on the Australian truffle industry and market, Franklin Garland, President, Garland Truffles, Inc., Robin Weant, founder, Patria Properties, specializing in real estate for vineyards and truffle orchards, Jack Ponticelli, CEO and co-founder, Piedmont Valley Truffles, largest orchard in North Carolina. Our emcee will be Jane Morgan Smith, President, NATGA and Keep Your Fork Farm.

Culinary masters will intrigue truffle aficionados and the epicurean folks with cooking demonstrations, fine Winemaker Dinners, a Truffle Cook-Off, and will culminate in a rare 7 course meal prepared by 7 chefs from around the world including Todd Gray, chef/owner of Washington D.C.'s Equinox Restaurant, Walter Royal, Iron Chef winner, one of 50 master chefs in the United States, one of Top Five Chefs in the Southeast, and executive chef of the Angus Barn in Raleigh, N.C; Jim Anile, Owner and Executive Chef, Revolution Restaurant and James Beard volunteer; Giorgios Bakastias, chef/owner of 7 diverse restaurants; Phillip Ponticelli, Chef de Cuisine ,Walt Disney World's Signature restaurants, Citricos; Carlos Cordon, owner Los Ranchos (written up in the Miami Herald as the best steak house in Central America) and Kakao, with chains in Guatemala, Brazil, and Miami; Jules Pernell, Jr., CEC, FMP, Executive Chef/Instructor, University of South Carolina Colleges Of Hospitality; Paul Kellum, Executive Chef, The Umstead Spa and Hotel; Chef Sam Poley, Durham Catering Company; Kyle Krieger, Executive Chef, Noble's Restaurant; Susi Gott S guret, Director, Swannoa School of Culinary Arts for ½ of year, chef in France for ½ of year; Colin Auchincloss, Executive Chef, Azure Grill; Mary Beth Manning, L'Acadamie de Cuisine, Maryland.

Sponsorship opportunities are available. Inclusive tickets to the National Truffle Fest start at $500 before January 31, 2009 and $750 thereafter. To register, call 919-740-3008 or visit http://www.NationalTruffleFest.com.