• Massimo Vidoni, managing director and founder of Italtouch, holds an imported black truffle, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, on Thursday, March 16, 2023. Vidoni’s business, Italtouch, has become the go-to supplier of truffles and caviar for a roster of 500 clients across the Gulf region that include Michelin-starred restaurants and winners of the regional 50 Best restaurant awards. Photographer: Christopher Pike / Bloomberg
    Massimo Vidoni, managing director and founder of Italtouch, holds an imported black truffle, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, on Thursday, March 16, 2023. Vidoni’s business, Italtouch, has become the go-to supplier of truffles and caviar for a roster of 500 clients across the Gulf region that include Michelin-starred restaurants and winners of the regional 50 Best restaurant awards. Photographer: Christopher Pike / Bloomberg
  • His business, Italtouch, has become the go-to supplier of truffles and caviar for 500 clients across the Gulf that include top-end establishments and winners of the regional 50 Best restaurant awards
    His business, Italtouch, has become the go-to supplier of truffles and caviar for 500 clients across the Gulf that include top-end establishments and winners of the regional 50 Best restaurant awards
  • Vidoni, a 54-year-old Italian, has become known in Dubai as the 'Truffleman', a name he says a chef coined years ago
    Vidoni, a 54-year-old Italian, has become known in Dubai as the 'Truffleman', a name he says a chef coined years ago
  • Demand has never been stronger for truffles in Dubai, where some diners expect to be offered dishes adorned with caviar, truffle or even gold leaf
    Demand has never been stronger for truffles in Dubai, where some diners expect to be offered dishes adorned with caviar, truffle or even gold leaf
  • Vidoni holds a tin of imported Iranian caviar. The company imported nearly 4,000kg of truffles last year
    Vidoni holds a tin of imported Iranian caviar. The company imported nearly 4,000kg of truffles last year
  • Truffles are best served with fatty foods such as oil, cream, butter and cheese — they don’t go well with acidic and spicy food, such as tomato, he explains
    Truffles are best served with fatty foods such as oil, cream, butter and cheese — they don’t go well with acidic and spicy food, such as tomato, he explains
  • Bottles of white balsamic vinegar with gold flake, created for the Saudi Arabian market and selling for Dh1,134 ($309), at the Italtouch showroom in Dubai
    Bottles of white balsamic vinegar with gold flake, created for the Saudi Arabian market and selling for Dh1,134 ($309), at the Italtouch showroom in Dubai
  • Reif Othman, chef and owner of Reif Japanese Kushiyaki restaurant, inspects black truffles delivered by Italtouch
    Reif Othman, chef and owner of Reif Japanese Kushiyaki restaurant, inspects black truffles delivered by Italtouch
  • Vidoni was even summoned to Abu Dhabi to deliver truffles in August 2020, when a delegation of Israelis visited the UAE as part of events around the Abraham Accords
    Vidoni was even summoned to Abu Dhabi to deliver truffles in August 2020, when a delegation of Israelis visited the UAE as part of events around the Abraham Accords
  • A Reif Japanese Kushiyaki dish of truffle cream udon, garnished with black truffles delivered by Italtouch. Massimo Vidoni’s business is booming
    A Reif Japanese Kushiyaki dish of truffle cream udon, garnished with black truffles delivered by Italtouch. Massimo Vidoni’s business is booming

Gulf

The go-to man for truffles and $300 balsamic vinegar - in pictures

Massimo Vidoni, the founder of Italtouch, serves customers across the Gulf

The National

March 22, 2023

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Updated: March 22, 2023, 11:01 AM
UAE