THIS family knows how to put the fun in fungi.
Every Saturday until August 31, Denzil, Anne and Matt Sturgiss offer visitors the opportunity to try truffle hunting at their property near Goulburn, with a lot of help from their dogs Dusty and Joker.
Guests to the property will get to enjoy the hunt, truffle tastings and an education session in The Truffle Shed. Fresh truffles will be for sale on the day.
Anne said it is a great day out and the dogs are terrific company. The family trained them to sniff out truffles by way of rewards and lots of encouragement.
In the past, particularly in France, pigs were used to find and dig up the delicacy.
Trouble was, they then tried eat to them - and woe betide anyone who got in their hand or fingers in the way: "There's many a mangled Frenchman if you go back a few years," Anne said with a laugh.
Happily, dogs have better manners and just love the thrill of pleasing their owners, especially the family's superstar Dusty, a pound dog in her previous life.
"She loves our son, she loves all the excitement of the hunt, she loves the people who come, she especially loves the kids - I sometimes think they just come for the dogs," Anne said.
The day runs from 10.30am-1.30pm. Cost $80 adult/ $20 children. Limit of 16 guests.
To book, call 4849-4605 or 0434 216 342 or email taragotruffles@gmail.com.
Tarago Truffles, 173 Willandra Lane, Tarago (40km south of Goulburn).
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