Chance to Win a Culinary Trip to Umbria, Italy - Contest Over Oct. 15th, 2007

Photo: Myscha Theriault

One of the leading players in the industry, Urbani hopes to inspire enthusiasm for the truffle experience through the sponsoring of an academy grant program.

The grand prize?  A one-week stay at Urbani’s Accademia del Tartufo in Umbria, Italy.  The trip will include a tour of Umbria and the Urbani facilities, a rare glimpse into the secretive world of the truffle hunter, a lesson in the truffle supply process and a cooking lesson led by Accademia chefs.  Other prizes are available also. I’ve included them below: 

Three first-prize winners will receive $1,500 worth of Urbani preserved truffle products and an Urbani Truffle book valued at $30.   

Ten second prize winners will receive $500 worth of Urbani’s preserved products and a cookbook of top Urbani recipes.  

All qualified entries will receive an Urbani Tartufi cookbook and all original recipes will be archived on the Urbani Grant Program website as well as on Urbani Tartufi’s general website. 

In order to qualify for the grant, you must submit one recipe which will be evaluated by truffle experts from the Accademia del Tartufo, and answer a brief questionnaire.  Entry forms are available at urbanigrant.com   The deadline for submission is October 15, 2007. 

I have to admit, I’ve always wanted to explore these things a bit more than I have. Look for a follow up article later this season featuring ideas for truffles on the cheap. In the meantime, for those of you competing, good luck! Having lived in Italy for two years, I can personally vouch for the beauty of the Umbria region.