Eugene, OR. – Eugene, Oregon, has been named one of the Top Trips for Truffle Lovers by Fodor’s Travel. The bountiful south Willamette Valley town is the only U.S. city on the list, joining the ranks of Alba, Italy, and Vaucluse, France.
Fodor’s noted the highly-acclaimed Oregon Truffle Festival as the main reason for the accolade. The annual event happens every January in Eugene and features truffle forays, truffle dog training, truffle tastings and pairings, and a Grand Truffle Dinner, which welcomes guest chefs from across the country. The festival celebrates the four varieties of black and white Oregon truffles that reach their peak ripeness mid-winter in the same mineral-rich soils that nurture Oregon’s award-winning wines.
The Ninth Annual Oregon Truffle Festival is scheduled for January 24 – 26, 2014. For the first time ever, the event will include craft beer and spirits pairings. Two-time James Beard Award nominees Karen Page and Andrew Dornenburg will be the featured hosts. The duo co-authored The Flavor Bible, What to Drink with What You Eat, The Food Lover’s Guide to Wine and other notable books.