Gift giving should bring out the best in us, sharing what we love with the people we care about. Though often, it becomes stressful and overwhelming—especially when trying to find something meaningful for those who insist they already have everything they need. This year, however, the herculean task was made easy by a simple idea. Instead of scouring store shelves for candles or scarves (though there’s nothing wrong with that), I’m looking back on my year and offering a piece of the world I am so lucky to be a part of as a food editor. After all, food makes the perfect present for just about anyone.
While there’s no shortage of goodies to choose from—from spice mills to wine—a recent work trip to Northwest Italy sealed my gift-giving fate. That’s where I found Tartuflanghe, a 50-year-old family business rooted in decades of truffle expertise.
My Favorite Italian Gift to Give This Year
Tartuflanghe was founded in 1975 by Beppe and Domenica Montanaro in Alba, an area famous for its rare and unique white truffles. Today, it is spearheaded by their daughter Stefania, son Paolo, and his wife Veronica. They were the most gracious of hosts, welcoming us into their hometown as if we were old friends back for a visit. Paolo showed us around the company headquarters, teeming with innovation and activity, from pasta production to chocolate making to freeze drying. Veronica told us stories about the town and the family history while feeding us plate after plate of Italy’s best. We even got to venture into the woods with an uncle, Michele, and his truffle-hunting dogs, Perla and Macchia. (Macchia sniffed out and dug up a precious white truffle right on cue.)
If it sounds too charming to be true, it almost was. And the Montanaro family’s passion for the region and their business showed through in each experience. Their modern take on Piedmont’s most iconic ingredient makes for a unique gift and story all in the same packaging.
The Tartuflanghe Holiday Picks I’m Ordering
So, how to boil all that down into something to bring to a holiday party or put under the tree? Tartuflanghe has something for everyone, though these picks are accessible and irresistible. The White Truffle Chips are my new favorite snack that I’ll pack into a gift basket along with the Trifulòt chocolate truffles or bring as host gifts to add to cheese and charcuterie boards for a festive, gourmet flair. The potato chips are salty, crispy, deeply aromatic, and have that unmistakable earthy richness that instantly elevates the beloved snack.
The sweet Trifulot truffles are an equally delicious treat on the other side of the flavor spectrum and come in beautiful bundles that don’t even need an added bow. They taste creamy, rich, and nostalgic all at once, in varieties such as Cappuccino, Amaretto, and Dark Chocolate with Hazelnut, which highlights another specialty from the Alta Langa hills: Piedmont Hazelnuts.
And for the devotees on my list—the ones who want not just a taste but a full experience—Tartuflanghe’s Ultimate White Truffle Gourmet Kit is just the thing. It not only allows truffle lovers to enjoy the delicacy year-round but also showcases Paolo’s savvy invention of freeze-drying white truffles to enhance olive oil, flavoring powder, salt, and honey. All with the best ingredients from local sources, honoring the land and its bounty.
The best part of any of these products is celebrating what this region and family hold most dear, making them ideal for gifting to anyone who’s hard to shop for. But they’re also meant to be opened, eaten, and enjoyed. For parents, in-laws, neighbors, and anyone who doesn’t want more “stuff,” that combination makes all the difference.
Dining and Cooking