Record-breaking chunkiest truffle shuffles into town

A Hong Kong-based top Italian chef is "proud" to be entrusted with cooking the largest white truffle in the world for a party in Central on Friday.

Setting a Guinness World Record at 1.89kg, the white truffle was sold for US$61,250 to an anonymous "food and wine lover from Taiwan" via a telephone bid at an auction held by Sotheby's in New York on Saturday.

The extraordinary tuber is nearly twice the size of that of the previous record holder - which sold for US$417,200 in 2010. It was discovered late last month in the Umbrian region of Italy and was offered by truffle supplier Sabatino Truffles.

An average white truffle is about the size of a walnut - this one is only slightly smaller than an American football. The record-breaking truffle arrived at Italian restaurant 81/2 Otto E Mezzo Bombana in Landmark Alexandra, Central, yesterday.

The restaurant's owner, Umberto Bombana, also known as the "King of White Truffles", will prepare a six-course menu for about 50 guests attending a party thrown by the anonymous buyer. Bombana said he was proud to undertake the mission.

A Hong Kong resident since 1993, Bombana has handled truffles for 30 years. "I'm very proud," he said. "I want to make sure I will do something beautiful. I'm discussing with the team about the menu today."