Meet The Truffle Scientists!

December 27, 2012 /

By Amy Reiley

This Friday morning, December 28, 2012, the two chief truffle officers behind the Napa Truffle Festival will sit down with the Tout Suite Social Club in downtown Napa to talk about the finer points of truffle cultivation, as well as the upcoming Truffle Festival.  Managing Director Robert Chang and Chief Scientist Dr. Paul Thomas are partners in the American Truffle Company, which sponsors the festival each year.  The two of them bring a breathtaking number of degrees from the world’s preeminent educational institutions, as well as years of experience and a shared passion for bringing more tasty truffles into this world.  As a native of southwestern France, Tout Suite host Didier Loustau is no stranger to les truffes, either, and should have some very interesting perspectives on the brave new world of truffle cultivation.

Joining them in the studio this week will be Enrico Caruso, aka Rico the truffle dog, who will lend his own expertise in charming humans and locating truffles.  Rico is a full-blooded Lagotto Romagnolo, which is the traditional breed of choice for truffle hunting in Italy, and also now in Napa.

Like all Tout Suite broadcasts, the interview will be streamed live to interested audience members around the world.  All you have to do is visit the Tout Suite website for the event, and decide whether you want to participate live with your webcam, or just watch the broadcast live. Log in a few minutes before the appointed time (9:00am Pacific Standard Time on December 28) to be sure you don’t miss a second.  Or, if you’re in the Napa area Friday morning, you can join the live studio audience!  RSVPs are required for this option, though, as there is only room for about 20 people.  Call 707-363-1539 to have Tout Suite save you a seat.

If you can’t attend the broadcast live, you can also check out the recording later in Tout Suite’s Video Vault.  But really – participate online while it’s happening, so you can ask these truffle pros your questions in real time.

Also, mark your calendars for January 3, 2013 at 5:30pm, when Napa Truffle Festival chefs take to the Tout Suite stage to talk truffle cooking –  and demonstrate a delectable dish or two.  More details to come….