Truffle Dinner at Philippe.

A highlight of the culinary calendar is Philippe's annual truffle dinner.

With truffle season in full swing, each of the curated five courses celebrated the earthy and decadent delicacy belonging to the mushroom family, found under tree roots and referred to as "the diamond of the kitchen" by French epicurean Jean Anthelme Brillat-Savarin.

Artisan sourdough bread with truffle butter was followed by tribute to Paul Bocuse black truffle soup baked in puff pastry; winter vegetable ragout with olive oil vinaigrette and black truffle; barramundi fillet with a truffle crust and celeriac cream; venison loin with parsley and truffle Viennoise and sauce poivrade; and dark chocolate tart soufflé with truffle honey ice cream.

A showcase of complementary Australian wines were poured in tandem including 2024 Yeringberg "Babyberg" Marsanne, Roussane and Viognier, Yarra Valley in Victoria; 2024 Stefano Lubiana "Primavera" Pinot Noir, Derwent and Huon Valley in Tasmania; 2023 Loosen Barry "Slate Hill" dry Riesling, Clare Valley in South Australia; 2023 John Duval "Concilio" Shiraz, Barossa Valley in South Australia; and a Yalumba antique Muscat.

Special guests included Brimfeldt Australian Shepherds Comet, Forrest and 10-month-old in training Ginny who hunt truffles through scent for a living and detected truffles hidden throughout the restaurant.

All good things came to a natural conclusion with patrons swooning over the truffle dogs as Norman Chef and Restaurateur Philippe Mouchel worked the room after overseeing the pass all night.

Philippe

115 Collins Street

Melbourne VIC 3000

Australia

+61 3 8394 6625

philipperestaurant.com.au

@philippe_restaurantmelb