7th April, gastronomic desert truffle day at the Centro Municipal de Corvera, in Corvera

Michelin-starred chefs and numerous tastings of a little known delicacy in the Region of Murcia

An unusual gastronomic event is being held at the Centro Municipal de Corvera, Corvera on 7^th April, offering a day out with a difference and a chance to learn about a curious and little known speciality of the Region of Murcia: the desert truffle.

Starting at 10.00, a morning of presentations (in Spanish but translation will be provided in English) and show cooking by Michelin-starred chefs is followed by a full menu (with drinks included in the price). The afternoon then includes more shows, a truffle market and a final tasting of the star product, and the admission price for the whole day is just 45 euros per head.

The term “desert truffle” is used to refer to edible hypogeous fungi (fungi that live entirely underground) growing in arid and semi-arid areas of the Mediterranean region, and as a delicacy they are generally more appreciated in Africa and the Middle East. They grow naturally in Spain, where popular names differ from region to region: in Murcia they are generally referred to as “turmas”, whereas in Extremadura they are “patatas de tierra” or “criadillas de tierra” and in the Canaries other terms are used.

The Romans knew about “desert truffles” and called them “tuber” which in Latin means “hump” or “lump”, probably on account of the bulge they make in the ground when mature. At this point they begin to crack the surface of the ground, and nothing more than good eyesight is needed to detect them.

In more modern times, the Biology faculty of Murcia University has become a pioneer in researching the crop, which can be grown 100% organically and is well suited to climate change, requiring only minimal moisture in the soil.

The full schedule for the event is as follows:

11.00 to 12.00: a technical presentation by Asunción Morte Gómez of the Department of Botany at the University of Murcia, followed by a practical presentation by agricultural engineer and truffle grower Francisco de Lara Tovar.

12.00 to 14.00: Gastronomic presentations

These are offered by David López of the Michelin-starred Local de Ensayo restaurant in Murcia, Pablo González Conejero, who has been awarded two Michelin stars at the Cabaña Buenavista restaurant in Murcia, and Ignacio Echapresto, a chef from La Rioja with one Michelin star to his name.

A complete 5-course meal with desert truffles featuring strongly on the menu is then presented by David López of Local de Ensayo between 14.00 and 16.00.

Admission to all of the above, including drinks to accompany the dishes presented is priced at 45 euros per head.

During the early evening a free event called Turmaforum 2019 is being held at the Centro Municipal in Corvera, just a few kilometres from the new Region of Murcia International Airport, with stands at which microscopes and magnifying glasses are supplied for activities identifying desert truffles and various presentations. Apart from the technical talks, there is another gastronomic treat with David López and Antonio Carbonell from 18.00 to 18.30 and a sampling session between 18.30 and 19.00, as well as a range of stands set up by gastronomic, tourism and ecological concerns in the Region of Murcia and members of the Asociación Española de Turmicultura, which is organizing the event.

Please note that the venue is at the Municipal Centre in Corvera, For further information and bookings please contact Paco (Finca Torrecillas) on 629 339 356 – English spoken.