Truffle Kerfuffle, the most decadent winter festival in WA, is returning in 2021 and will be held from 25 to 27 June at Fonty's Pool in Manjimup.
It will be the 10th annual festival celebrating Manjimup's prized black truffles and is set to be the biggest celebration in the event's history.
Festival president Jeremy Beissel said that this year's Truffle Kerfuffle couldn't come soon enough.
"It will be two years since we've been able to rug up and mingle around the fire pit, indulge in long table feasts in good company, surrounded by great food and the unmistakable mouth-watering smell of fresh truffles," he said.
"The pandemic has been a frustrating time and we're really looking forward to welcoming visitors to Manjimup, to bringing locals together and celebrating all the great things about the Southern Forest region.
"As a board, we're raring to go and we expect tickets to sell fast," he said
Joining the festival this year is French-born Guillaume Brahimi, an awarded chef, restauranteur, author and philanthropist.
Brahimi said he was really looking forward to being part of Truffle Kerfuffle.
"What better way to spend a winter weekend than celebrating and hunting for world class Australian black truffles," he said.
"The Australian Truffle industry has been a big contributor on the culinary scene, and I am excited to be showcasing them at this year's event."
Brahimi presents the first dining event of Truffle Kerfuffle, a long table rustic feast for the senses featuring the best Southern Forests seasonal produce, beautiful wine, and generous amounts of fresh black truffle in celebration of the winter solstice.
Joining him will be renowned and awarded chef Analiese Gregory, former executive chef of Franklin in Hobart.
Originating from New Zealand, Gregory gained experience in some of Europe's best kitchens including The Ledbury, Le Meurice, Mugartiz, and Michel Bras as well as five years at Quay working alongside Peter Gilmore.
At the 'Wild Things' dinner on Saturday night, named in tribute to her cookbook How wild things are, Gregory will create a memorable dining experience of slow food and story, on cooking, fishing and hunting at the bottom of the world.
Her menu will pay homage to Manjimup's freshly unearthed black truffle paired with matched wines.
The stellar line up of local culinary talent heading to the Southern Forests region includes WA's very own Aaron Carr, Tony Howell, Kenny McHardy, Brendon Pratt, Paul Iskov, David Coomer, Sue Lewis and Sophie Budd.
After a five-year hiatus from Truffle Kerfuffle, Kenny McHardy of Fremantle's Manuka Woodfire Kitchen returns, teaming up with Aaron Carr from Dunsborough's Yarri, for 'The Truffle Hunters Brunch'.
Down-to-earth McHardy will also hold a Chef's Cabin masterclass.
"It's such a luxury for us to have high-quality truffles, a premium ingredient, produced in our backyard - I look forward to truffle season every winter and can't wait to celebrate it in Manjimup," he said.
"To me, Truffle Kerfuffle is more than bringing people to Manjimup, it's about connecting them to farmers and producers.
"Truffles are the lure, but there's a lot more to Manjimup than people think, it's a chance to get out of the city for the weekend, meet some farmers and taste some beautiful produce, all while having a great time."
Event attendees can gather around the kitchen bench and get to know truffles better, or perhaps a favourite chef, at the intimate Chef's Cabin masterclass sessions that combine learning with tasting in a small group setting.
The limited Chef's Cabin consists of six masterclasses, each run by awarded chef including McHardy along with former chef now truffle farmer David Coomer, acclaimed Vasse Felix executive chef Brendan Pratt and Le Rebelle's Liam Atkinson.
Hosted by Gourmet Traveller's Max Veenhuyzen, the Chef's Cabin masterclasses are renowned for personal connections, flowing conversations and include fine wine.
With good food, comes good wine, and State Buildings sommelier and wine expert Emma Farrelly is curating the Truffle Kerfuffle wine program and running the Wine Shed Sessions that include up to six tastings of some of the best regional wine.
Besides delectable dining events and fireside cooking sessions in the Chef's Cabin, there'll be truffle dog demonstrations and truffle hunts, free cooking demonstrations with chef Tony Howell and acclaimed chefs.
Free kids cooking classes with chef Sophie Budd, wine sessions, beer masterclasses and spirit tastings, an undercover Marketplace where you can meet local farmers, producers, winemakers and the community that make up the Southern Forests region, plus plenty of truffle-laden dishes to try and buy, music and more.
From its initial beginnings in 2011, Truffle Kerfuffle (a not for profit community event) has grown into a highlight of the Australian tourism calendar and a bucket-list event for many travellers and food-lovers.
For more information or to purchase tickets please visit trufflekeruffle.com.au.
