Acquire A Taste For Black And White Truffles

What is it about truffles that makes them so much more magical-mystical than average, ordinary, everyday mushrooms?

Prices and pigs do not count in this discussion. And, no, you cannot quote Marie Antoinette's favourite caterer who compared truffles with diamonds, claiming the underground "fruiting" part of the fungus rivals a diamond's rarity and is immensely more satisfying. In fact, you may have to admit, for the average palette, the difference between truffles and prosaic, plebeian mushrooms is negligible. Like escargot, clams, avocado's, and James Joyce's most masterful prose, truffles are an acquired taste. And a well-developed palette can discern a truffle grown near an oak tree from its rival grown near a hazel, poplar, or beech. Similarly, just as most of children's literature is squandered on the young, truffles certainly are wasted on children; not even the most precocious adolescents really need truffles, because just one exceptional truffle recently sold for more than US$330, 000.

Black and white truffles

For the uninitiated, the two distinct truffle colors denote different aromas and flavour. "Black" truffles, which come primarily from Italy and France, are considerably more subtle and precious than their "white" counterparts, which spring-up all across Italy and France and even have been known to appear in Croatia. Black truffles smell and taste far more like fungi than the white variety; in other words, expect your black truffles to smell and taste like "extreme mushrooms." Black truffles' textures make them slightly more toothsome than white truffles, which closely resemble shallots or garlic in aroma, taste, and texture. Of course, the trufflerati describe the taste of dark truffles as "a poignant, piquant mlange of chocolate and earth." Because of their subtlety and rarity, and also because of variations in supply and demand, black truffles cost considerably more than their white cousins. And, yes, in the truffle world, if you have to ask, you cannot afford it.

A select few truffle recipes

As you may imagine, gourmets construct entire recipes around precious truffles; only a parvenu would think of accessorizing an already good dish with truffles. Consider, for example, linguine with black truffles, the

When Will and Kate, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, drop-in for dinner, serve them your new specialty'"truffle custards with crab and caviar. The shot-glass sized appetizer obviously has all the lan itinerant royals require, but it takes only about half-an-hour to prepare, and it will not bankrupt the royal coffers. Although you need not be ambidextrous to prepare this exotic delicacy, you are advised that it will keep both hands busy throughout the process. Preparing the custard, use truffle oil instead of olive or oil, whisking it together with your standard egg mixture; meanwhile, combine cream, milk, and soy sauce in a small saucepan, bringing them just to a boil before removing them from heat for brisk mixing with the egg mix. Strain the mix and pour into shot glasses for baking in your customary Bain Marie. As the custard cups bake, prepare a mixture of crab meat, finely diced black truffles, lime juice, chives, and seasoning to your taste. When the custards properly have cooked and cooled, garnish them with your crab mixture, adding a dollop of caviar on the top of each. Tasting the subtle mlange of flavour and textures, the newlyweds will admire and appreciate your thoughtfulness.

If you want to try white truffles then why not buy truffle and taste for yourself.

By Rob Colbourn -

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