Food & Drinks

Demand for Truffles in Dubai Is Soaring. Here’s the Man to Call

Massimo Vidoni had a hard time selling the ingredient when he came to Dubai a decade ago, but it’s now a restaurant staple.

Reif Othman, chef and owner of Reif Japanese Kushiyaki, shaves Italtouch-supplied black truffles on a dish.
Photographer: Christopher Pike/Bloomberg

Provide news feedback or report an error

Confidential tip?

Send a tip to our reporters

Site feedback:

Take our Survey

By Lisa Fleisher

March 21, 2023 at 4:15 AM UTC

One weekend in 2020, chef Francesco Guarracino got a call from one of his regular customers, a very wealthy man flying back to Dubai from London. The diner was looking forward to a favorite dish with truffles that evening at Roberto’s, where Guarracino is group executive chef.

But Guarracino knew he didn’t have enough truffle in the kitchen, so he made a call to one man: Massimo Vidoni.