Let me tell you about a gift I received last evening. Dante’s school pal Michele was over visiting and I was chatting with him. He told me that his father had been out earlier in the day truffle hunting. Apparently his father had found a dozen good-sized truffles.
Curious about truffle hunting, I began to ask Michele questions about it. Does his father use a dog? Yes. How did he train the dog? That is a little more confusing to explain but suffice it to say that the dog was rewarded when it would dig and find a truffle. What does his father do with all the truffles? Does he sell them? Sometimes. Mostly to people around here. Then Michele ran off to go home for dinner.
But a half hour later he returned. He had a small paper bag. Inside he showed me, were two black truffles about the size of walnuts – Tartufi. Un regalo – a gift he told me. I am just shocked.
These things are highly prized and a precious commodity. As well as delicious. As of December 2009, black truffles were sold between €1,000 per kilo at a farmer’s market and €3,490 per kilo at a retailer.
They’re ugly little suckers but oh-so-heavenly. Michele, all of eleven-years-old proceeded to tell me how to clean and store them. Even the children are in touch with their local food products.
Our area of Tuscany is known for truffles and porcinis. You will find them on the menu as a key ingredient of every local restaurant. Also, many towns around here will have truffle festivals in the late fall.
The white truffle is the most famous of all, considered the king of truffles. Its flavor is more delicate than the black truffle and is never cooked – it is only served fresh, shaved over pasta dishes. But I don’t know if those are found around here. I think they are found mainly up north.
I don’t know what I am going to do with them yet. Probably a pasta. infuse some olive oil. What a lovely gift. I am still in shock.
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