On November 10, three Michelin starred restaurant Otto e Mezzo held the 20th edition of the Alba White Truffle World Auction, with over HK$3.5 million raised for the charity Mother’s Choice from five auction lots and a five-course charity dinner.

Known for breaking records nearly every year, the white truffle auction at the acclaimed restaurant didn’t disappoint with the grand lot—a large single white truffle weighing 1kg and 5 grams, plus a double magnum of Massolino Barolo Vigna Rionda 2000 and Cortese Giuseppe Barbaresco Rabaja 1985, and dinner for 12 at Otto e Mezzo. The auction for the behemoth white truffle took place simultaneously in Alba, Moscow and Singapore, with hopefuls volleying escalating bids one after the other. After a little bit of prodding from auctioneer Robert Sleigh of Sotheby’s, and fellow diners in Hong Kong, the 19th and final bid of 120,000 Euros (later converted to HK$1.035 million) was placed by a gentleman at the front of the dining room to rapturous applause. It was the highest bid in the past 12 years of the auction.