Win a Truffle Hunt for Two at Tarago Truffles - Truffle Festival 2014

The 2014 Canberra & Capital Region Truffle Festival begins on 21 June and I'm absolutely delighted to partner once again with Anne and Denzil Sturgiss from Tarago Truffles who have generously offered readers of Good Things the opportunity to WIN a truffle hunt for two during this year's season.

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Anne and Denzil (pictured above with their truffle dog, Tom) have been growing truffles on their property, Gap Hill, since 2002 and over the years have established a successful and productive truffière set amongst more than 4,300 hazelnut and oak trees on nine hectares. Tarago Truffles supplies fine quality black Perigord truffles to leading local restaurants and truffle-loving home cooks.

During the 2014 Canberra and Capital Region Truffle Festival, Anne and Denzil will host truffle hunts at Tarago Truffles, Willandra Lane, Tarago, NSW on the following dates:

• June 28
• July 5
• July 12
• July 19
• August 2
• August 16

All hunts commence at 10.30am. If you are planning to go on a truffle hunt, be mindful that you need to dress appropriately for winter outdoors, and wear good walking shoes. You will be welcomed by Denzil and Anne and the dogs and their handlers. Generally there are two or three truffle dogs, so small groups can join a harvester and get up close and personal with truffles. After the hunt, you will have the opportunity to savour fresh truffle shaved over Anne’s delicious homemade soup, while she shows you how to clean and care for truffles. Fresh truffles will be available for purchase on the day, so please bring some cash with you.

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Truffle Hunt 'doggie cam'...

Watch this delightful doggie cam video and see Tom the truffle hound at work with Denzil from Tarago Truffles, seeking out the finest black truffles. Vision appears courtesy of my friends, Sally and Gordon Hammond, Food and Travel.

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Details of the competition and the giveaway...

Thanks to the generosity of Anne and Denzil Sturgiss, one lucky Good Things reader will win a Tarago Truffles truffle hunt for two, valued at $120.

To be in the running to win, please subscribe to Good Things via the box above RH side on my sidebar, (if you haven't already) and in the comments box below tell me in 50 words or less why you'd love to win a truffle hunt for two. The entries will be judged according to originality and creativity (chance plays no part in determining the winner), and the winner will be notified by email.

Important: the prize covers a Tarago Truffles 2014 Truffle Festival truffle hunt for two only. Winners must be available during the dates of the truffle festival, able to make their own way to Tarago Truffles at Willandra Lane, Tarago in New South Wales, and cover their own travel and accommodation expenses (and all meals) as required.

Please ensure that you enter your current email address (one you check regularly!) with your comment/entry so you can be reached in the event you're selected as the winner. If the winning reader does not respond within 48 hours, Good Things will redraw the competition and select a new winner.

Note: the competition is open to Australian readers only (with apologies to my overseas readers) and closes at midnight on 18 June 2014 AEST. 

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Now that's a fine specimen...

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Finding a truffle is a happy experience...

If you enjoy cooking with truffles, you might like my recipes for scrambled eggs with truffle; smoked duck breast salad with blood orange, walnut and truffle; or Anne's recipe for truffled pasta, which appears below:

ANNE'S TRUFFLED PASTA
Boil 2.5 litres of water to which you have added 50g of salt. Add 250g of Fettucini. When the pasta is al dente, draw off a cup of the water before draining the pasta. Return pot to heat, add some butter and finely sliced garlic, a little chilli flake and some sea salt. Gently cook until fragrant. Add the steaming pasta to this sauce, plus the reserved cup of water (that pasta was cooked in). Toss a little and then add cream and shaved parmigiana. Serve hot with truffle shaved over the top.

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For more information about The Canberra & Capital Region Truffle Festival in 2014, click here.

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Good luck to my readers who are eligible to enter the giveaway. Tell me, my dear readers from around the globe, have you ever been on a truffle hunt? Where? Please share stories about your truffle adventures here.

Thank you to all those who entered the Truffle Hunt competition, it is now closed. Congratulations Len or 'En' (typo), Anne and Denzil very much liked your response and look forward to welcoming you, your wife and your little girls to Tarago Truffles. Thanks again to all who entered.