Food always makes for a perfect holiday gift. And, in a particularly challenging year where indulgences justifiably carry the extra emphasis of quality and value at a worthwhile price, food gifts that represent the best independent entrepreneurial practices of sustainable agriculture seem to be just the right touch.

Cristiano Creminelli, whose handmade salamis and meat products have become especially popular in Salt Lake City at such spots as Tony Caputo’s Market and Deli, is offering, for the first time to an American audience, a salami that contains the Alba white truffle, unquestionably the queen of the truffle family.

Cristiano, who learned the art of salami curing as a young boy in his family’s salumifico in the northern Italian town of Biella in the Piedmont region, has produced this exceptional variety in Italy periodically but the timing seems perfect for the forthcoming holiday season. The preparation is similar to that of the Tartufo Handcrafted Italian Salami with Black Truffle which won the Sofi Silver Finalist Award for Outstanding New Product of 2008.

However, instead of using black summer truffles, Cristiano threw restraint to the wind and used this particularly prized white truffle. Cristiano took extra care in selecting each cut of meat that would be used for this Produzione d’Eccellenza consisting of five small batches of 100 pounds and each containing the equivalent of 1.5 pounds of fresh Alba truffles, “tartufo bianco,” which come directly from Piedmont, Cristiano’s home region. In fact, Alba truffles — recognized consistently as one of the world’s most prized food items — are celebrated each year at a fall festival in Italy.

In addition to the meat selection, Cristiano refused to delegate the sensitive task of shaving the truffles. Along with the truffle, many of the spices, and the special production pure white tying cord are all Italian imports.

The salami is a limited production offering. It is being sold in 8-9 oz. pieces cased in a wooden gift box for $59.95 through Creminelli’s retail stand in the Pike Place Market, select gourmet retailers around the country including Caputo’s, Central Market in Texas and Murray’s in New York City and online here.