This winter, we're excited to introduce our limited-time Winter Truffle Pizza—a celebration of the finest ingredients from Campania. This special creation combines the earthy richness of winter truffles with our authentic Neapolitan dough and traditional Italian techniques. It's a dish that embodies the essence of Italian luxury cuisine, where simplicity meets sophistication, and tradition embraces seasonal excellence.
The Magic of Winter Truffles
Winter truffles, specifically the prized Tuber melanosporum (black winter truffle), are one of Italy's most luxurious ingredients. They grow deep beneath the soil in the forests of Campania, particularly in the regions around Mount Vesuvius, where the volcanic soil provides the perfect conditions for their growth. These truffles are harvested during the coldest months of the year—December through February—when their flavor is at its most intense and complex.
The aroma of a fresh winter truffle is intoxicating—earthy, musky, with hints of garlic, chocolate, and forest floor. It's a scent that can't be replicated, and it's this aroma that makes truffles so prized. When you smell a fresh winter truffle, you're experiencing one of nature's most complex and captivating scents, a fragrance that has been celebrated in Italian cuisine for centuries.
Local Sourcing: A Partnership with Nature
Our truffles come directly from local producers in Campania, specifically from the forests around Mount Vesuvius and the Campanian Apennines. These truffle hunters, known as "trifolau" in Italian, use trained dogs to locate the truffles—pigs, traditionally used, are now banned in many areas due to their tendency to eat the valuable fungi.
We work closely with these producers, visiting them regularly to ensure we're getting the freshest, highest-quality truffles available. The relationship goes beyond business—it's a partnership built on mutual respect for the land, the tradition, and the craft. These truffle hunters have been working the same forests for generations, and their knowledge of the terrain, the weather patterns, and the truffle lifecycle is invaluable.
The truffles we receive are harvested just hours before they arrive at our restaurant. This freshness is crucial—truffles lose their aroma and flavor quickly, so every hour counts. We store them carefully, wrapped in paper towels in a sealed container in our refrigerator, and use them within 24 hours of arrival.
The Pizza: A Symphony of Flavors
Our Winter Truffle Pizza is a masterpiece of simplicity and sophistication. It begins with our hand-kneaded dough, fermented for 48 hours to develop its characteristic flavor and texture. The dough is stretched by hand, never rolled, preserving the delicate air bubbles that create the perfect Neapolitan crust.
The base is brushed with a light layer of extra virgin olive oil from Campania, then topped with fresh mozzarella di bufala—the creamy, tangy cheese that melts beautifully in the wood-fired oven. As the pizza bakes at 900°F for just 60-90 seconds, the mozzarella melts and bubbles, creating a creamy base for the truffles.
Once the pizza emerges from the oven, we immediately shave fresh black winter truffles over the top using a special truffle slicer. The heat from the pizza releases the truffle's aroma, filling the air with that intoxicating scent. We finish it with a drizzle of white truffle oil—made by infusing high-quality olive oil with truffle essence—and a scattering of fresh basil leaves.
The result is a pizza that balances the earthy richness of truffles with the fresh, tangy mozzarella, the crisp, airy crust, and the herbal notes of basil. Each bite is a revelation—the complex, earthy flavor of truffles, the creamy richness of mozzarella, the crisp crust, and the subtle sweetness of the caramelized edges.
Limited Availability: A Seasonal Treasure
This special pizza is available for a limited time only, from December through February. Due to the seasonal nature of truffles, quantities are limited, and we can only serve a certain number each day. The truffles themselves are scarce—even expert truffle hunters can return from a day's hunt empty-handed.
We recommend making a reservation in advance, especially during the holiday season, to ensure you can experience this special creation. The Winter Truffle Pizza is not just a dish—it's an experience, a celebration of seasonal ingredients, and a testament to the relationship between nature, tradition, and culinary excellence.
A Taste of Italian Luxury
Visit La Fornara in Naples to experience this seasonal special and discover why winter truffles are considered one of Italy's most prized ingredients. It's a dish that represents the pinnacle of Italian culinary tradition—simple ingredients, exceptional quality, and respect for the seasons. When you taste our Winter Truffle Pizza, you're experiencing more than just a pizza—you're experiencing a piece of Italian culinary heritage, a celebration of the land, and the magic of seasonal ingredients at their peak.