Greg Perez is one of the most colorful chef characters on the local dining scene. Calling Perez a local culinary visionary is apt; it may even be an understatement. His talents and personality are best understood by the introduction to a SLM Q&A from 2009.
No one can think it up, talk it up, and then make it happen better than Greg Perez. Think back 20 years: It was Perez who introduced our city to “revitalized American favorites,” Southwest/Mex cuisine, a full page of wines by the glass, the terms “small plates” and “tapas,” then conceived the nation’s first hemp-infused menu…and paired that with a “vapor bar.” The visionary chef, innovator, and salesman extraordinaire is now focused on developing and marketing his hemp oil–based salad dressings—he even snagged placement in this year’s Oscar “goodie bag.”
Since that time, he’s been busy marketing Greg’s Hemp Products, a line of hemp oil-based salad dressings, largely to markets on the West Coast. Recently, the subject and allure of white truffles drew his interest, so much so that he journeyed to Alba, Italy, the white truffle capital of the world, to attend the annual White Truffle Festival (Fiera Internazionale del Tartufo Bianco d’Alba), a month-long celebration of the rare, expensive delicacy. The purpose of his trip was to gain knowledge, make contacts, and arrange a wholesale buy of the beloved foodstuff.
In an upcoming article for SLM, Perez (examining a large white truffle above) will chronicle his five-day journey. It started out this way…
SLM: Where did you stay while you were there?
Perez: I rented an apartment from a guy named Giovanni, a third generation winery owner. It just so happened his father had planted a bunch of oak trees on the land 100 years ago, hoping one day there would be truffles for his family to enjoy.
How did you find this guy?
Through Apartment Search! When we got together, I was unaware that his land was one of the best plots for truffles in the area, in Barolo, just outside of Alba. And since the dude was a third generation owner, he knew all the reputable farmers, the best brokers, and the best contacts… I just happened to stumble right in the middle of it all.
