Tis the season… for truffle hunting in Italy. The Piedmont region is renowned for the rare white truffle—the most expensive and sought-after truffle in the world. The best time to find these culinary delicacies is in October and November; gourmands flock to the white truffle market in Alba for the annual Fiera del Tartufo (truffle fair). Milan’s Principe di Savoia—the Dorchester Collection hotel on the Piazza della Repubblica—has launched a truffle hunting package to coincide with this event.
Guests are chauffeured in a Mercedes E Class to the Piedmont region, where you'll go truffle hunting with specially-trained dogs in Roddi, followed by a four-course lunch at Enoclub Ristorante, where truffles are prominently featured on the menu. In the afternoon, you’ll head to the famous Truffle Fair in Alba to shop for these locally-foraged treats. The fair takes place on Saturdays and Sundays through November 18, 2012. The package, including buffet breakfast, starts from 550 euros in a Classic Room. Three nights stay required. For more information, visit www.hotelprincipedisavoia.com