Truffle pasta in Knightsbridge comes down to one dish at ALBA London. The ALBA Tagliatelle pairs fresh tagliatelle with a black truffle and butter sauce, and it is entirely vegetarian, which is less common than it should be at this end of the market. Each October, when the white Alba truffle season opens, a seasonal special runs alongside it.
The ALBA Tagliatelle
Butter and black truffle is one of the oldest pairings in Italian cooking, and one of the least forgiving. There is nothing to hide behind: no cream, no stock, no long reduction. The sauce is butter, the truffle is black, and the pasta has to be good enough to carry both. Get the balance right and the truffle runs through every forkful rather than sitting on top of the plate as a garnish.
It is also, as served, a vegetarian dish, which is worth saying plainly because truffle pasta so often is not. Guests who eat this way in a restaurant of this kind are usually pointed at the vegetable side of the menu rather than one of its signatures. Here it sits among the vegetarian dishes without any sense of compromise.
The tagliatelle is one of many Italian pasta shapes on the menu at this Amalfi-inspired Italian restaurant in Knightsbridge, part of a kitchen rooted in Amalfi Coast cooking and served alongside the Arrabbiata alla Vodka and the signature risotto. It suits a romantic dinner too, being the kind of plate two people end up sharing whether or not they planned to.
White Truffle Season, Each October
ALBA shares its name with Alba, the town in the Langhe hills of Piedmont that the white Alba truffle is named after. Each October, as the season opens, the kitchen runs a white truffle special.
It is a different proposition to the black truffle tagliatelle: a shorter season, a scarcer ingredient, and an aroma that announces itself across a room. If you want to eat white Alba truffle in London, October is the month to plan around. The season is genuinely brief and the best of it goes early.
A Short Guide to Italian Truffles
Two truffles matter most at an Italian table. The white Alba truffle is Piedmontese, runs from autumn into winter, and is among the most expensive culinary ingredients in the world. The summer black truffle is more abundant, keeps a much longer season, and is softer in aroma. The winter black truffle sits between the two, earthier than the summer variety and far more affordable than the white.
Each has its proper application. Black truffle takes heat and fat well, which is exactly why it belongs in a butter sauce. White truffle is served raw and shaved, because heat destroys what makes it worth the money.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where Can I Get Truffle Pasta in Knightsbridge?
ALBA London serves truffle pasta at 70 Brompton Road, opposite Harrods. The dish is the ALBA Tagliatelle, made with black truffle and a butter sauce.
What is the ALBA Tagliatelle?
The ALBA Tagliatelle is ALBA's truffle pasta: fresh tagliatelle in a black truffle and butter sauce.
Is the Truffle Pasta at ALBA Vegetarian?
Yes. The ALBA Tagliatelle is vegetarian as served.
When is White Truffle Available at ALBA London?
The white truffle special runs each October, when the Alba season opens. Outside that window the truffle pasta is made with black truffle.
What is the Difference Between White and Black Truffle?
The white Alba truffle is Piedmontese, runs autumn into winter, and is among the most expensive culinary ingredients in the world. Black truffle is more abundant, keeps a longer season and is milder in aroma. White truffle is shaved raw, while black truffle takes heat and works in a sauce.
Is ALBA London Named After the Truffle Town?
Alba means sunrise in Italian, and that is where the restaurant's name comes from. It happens to be shared with Alba in Piedmont, the town the white truffle is named after, which makes October a fitting month in the kitchen.
