Truffled scrambled eggs, scones in Berrima and the Capital Country Truffle Festival, Canberra

Black winter truffles from Manjimup, Western Australia

Old socks and sex.

That, according to some, is the most accurate description of the smell of fresh truffles.

I'd never tried fresh truffles before which was why the first ever Capital Country Truffle Festival had me snuffling about the web like a truffle-hunting, errr... pig.

Truffles have been cultivated around Australia for several years now, and in the Canberra region there are now 30 truffle growers, on properties running from Robertson to Jindabyne. The lure of fresh truffles saw us organise a day trip to Canberra last weekend, a long drive that required an early start and a plan to congregate at my place for breakfast.


Scrambled eggs topped with black truffle and pain perdu

Mrs Pig Flyin texts me to advise that she and Pig Flyin will be bringing breakfast. I'm picturing takeaway crossiants or maybe a quick fry-up of bacon and eggs, so I'm taken aback when out comes a dark brown nugget of fresh truffle, a precious package delivered from Western Australia via Simon Johnson only the day before.

At $2,750 per kilogram, this truffle is not to be trifled with. I gladly surrender the kitchen to the expert hands of Pig Flyin and within minutes we're being served a breakfast of scrambled eggs with truffles, plus a pain perdu made with the Simon Johnson panettone, purchased on sale the week before.

Pig Flyin is still waiting on the arrival of his truffle shaver so we make do with a microplane. The truffle has an earthy musty aroma, and the fine shavings tend to melt on the tongue. The taste reminds me a little of black fungus, or cloud ear fungus, although the texture is completely different, all soft and velvety. The pain perdu, or French toast, is fluffy and light, like a pillow of eggy sponge. We also shared a fried egg, an egg which has been stored with the truffle for a subtle imparting of truffle flavour.

We pile into two cars, along with L and M, and head toward Canberra, a pit-stop planned at Berrima to break the journey.


The Old Bakery Tea Rooms

Somehow we always end up at the Old Bakery Tea Rooms.


The cottage


Inside the tea room


Old iron (it was really heavy!)


Crayons for the kids (and kids at heart)

Despite having barely digested breakfast, was I ever going to just have a cup of tea? Unlikely. The scones at The Old Bakery Tea Rooms are renowned. For good reason.


Devonshire tea $7.80
Two hot scones with fresh cream, jam and tea or coffee


Large flat white


Scones with jam and cream

The scones. They stand exceedingly tall and proud, their tops dusted with a light smattering of flour. The scones don't have the moist cakey texture one sometimes finds in recipes that include lemonade and cream. These are much lighter, more delicate and airier, clouds which we slather mercilessly with strawberry jam and then dollop with cream.


Jam then cream, or cream then jam?

As we tuck into our still-warm scones, I note that some of us vary in our jam and cream order. I've always thought one should spread the jam first so one can achieve an even layer, and then slap on spoonfuls of cream with carefree abandon. The jam on cream version seems a little trickier to manage although it does seem to make a prettier photo.

Is there a set scone etiquette for the order in which jam and cream should be applied?


Who's your Sugar Daddy?

Whilst the others make a detour via Mrs Oldbucks Pantry, I make a quick dash into Sugar Daddy's Cake Design, whose sign I'd casually noticed on our way to the Tea Room.


Printed muffin papers

It's a baking lover's dream. Cupcake papers, cookie cutters, icing tools and more...


Wedding cake kitchen timers on a cake plate


Cupcake stand


Clam shell stand for petit fours

I restrain myself to a snowflake cookie cutter ($3.90) even though there's plenty more I want to purchase. And we hit the road again, toward Canberra, and a four course truffle lunch at Senso.

The Capital Country Truffle Festival continues in Canberra until July 11, 2009. Check the events schedule as well as the list of participating restaurants for more. You can also join a truffle hunt and watch the truffle dogs in action!


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The Old Bakery Tea Room
Wingecarribee St, Berrima
Tel: +61 (02) 4877 1343


View Larger Map

Sugar Daddy's Cake Design
Armfield Cottage
3/13 Old Hume Highway, Berrima
Tel: +61 (02) 4877 2554


Read the next post: Truffle lunch at Senso

Related Grab Your Fork posts:
Canberra Truffle Festival Part 1: Truffles for breakfast, scones from morning tea
Canberra Truffle Festival Part 2: Truffle lunch at Senso Restaurant
Canberra Truffle Festival Part 3: Dinner at Mecca Bah

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