Truffle fair Bastide St Antoine

Organised by the Alpes-Maritimes truffle growers union and the Agriculture chamber this event gathers the top experts and their trusty truffle-sniffing dogs to exchange ideas, and to discuss techniques and the market for these priceless, edible gems, the black version of which is aptly called ‘black diamond'.

This is a chance to pick up truffles for your pantry direct from the supplier. The advice is to get there early when the market opens at 9am to choose from the cream of the crop. At various times during the day demonstrations of how the specially trained truffle dogs find their treasure will take place. A competition for the best truffle pâte recipe will have mouths watering. There will be plenty of opportunities to taste, as celebrated chef Jacques Chibois will be demonstrating his culinary brilliance all day at the Bastide, only stopping at 12.30pm when a fresh truffle lunch will be served. Other local products on sale include Tuber mélanosporum, olive oil, pâte, niçois olives, cheese, jams, foie gras, honey, escargots, Côtes de Provence wines and more.

On Sunday there is an outing to a truffle field (meet at the townhall of Rouret for the bus at 9am). From 9.30am special events take place all day at the place des Anciens Combattants (in front of the townhall). At 11.30am there is a conference for truffle growers. PF