La Toque’s Chef Ken Frank, Napa Valley’s Truffle Evangelist
Ken Frank is ready for a busy weekend in Napa. The Chef Owner of La Toque , the Michelin starred restaurant located at the Westin Verasa Napa is gearing up for a sold out Napa Truffle Festival beginning tomorrow, January 13, until the 16th. With the beautiful gorgeously mild weather Northern California has been having the past few weeks, it certainly is no wonder why the events of the weekend will draw bon vivants back to the wine country ~ in a few locations, but with the Westin Verasa as the designated ‘truffle central’.
Organized for the most part by the American Truffle Company, this will be the second year the festival will be held. And for good reason. Real truffles need good evangelists, especially in a region known for many of the finest dining establishments and rock star celebrity Chefs ~ AND ~ in a time where knock offs abound. There is so much ‘talk’ about truffles these days and it seemed (to me, at least) to almost be a marketing ploy. So with that, and with much to learn, I was honored to have been granted a little bit of time with Chef Frank today, before his restaurant opened for dinner.
Email message exchange:
Ken Frank: Truffles are here. Smells Amazing
C&A : I’m in the lobby, will have ‘em call you
Today, Chef Frank welcomed the arrival (from Europe) of all the truffles that will be used during the entire festival. I had the delightful pleasure of holding these gems in my hand, sniffing them and inhaling its very distinct aroma. And not just a slice or a sliver, but a bucketful times three.
Ken Frank at La Toque with the truffles for the festival
I wish there was a way to scratch and sniff on this post because it’s difficult to explain the high you get from the scent of these dark and strange looking Périgord truffles especially when the container they were stored in is newly opened. It was sweet and very earthy. And smelled very expensive.
Chef Frank preparing to show me the truffles
Page 1 of 3 | Next page