Truffle Season

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Ooooh, this is my favorite time of year! Truffle season has arrived, which means I get to eat at the best restaurants until I feel totally gorged on fine vino and pasta dishes smothered in truffle shavings.


I met a girl tonight who had never had truffles before, so I impulsively took her to Fiamia for diner. She had the duck with white truffle chips, and I had the oxtail tortellini with cream and wine reduction sauce slathered with white truffle shavings. Delicious! That was my inspiration for this thread, I want to know about other great meals that feature truffles.

Warning - truffles are not for the squeamish, yet its a true gourmet delight. They are found on the ground by pigs, although they are sometimes found by trained dogs instead (pigs don't need training, but dogs don't eat the truffles and the pigs do). They are $600/pound at Dean & Delucca for black truffles this season, but you can buy one for around $45 (probably around 20 servings). White truffles are generally served uncooked and shaved over steaming buttered pasta or salads. White or black paper-thin truffle slices may be inserted in meats, under the skins of roasted fowl, in foie gras preparations, in pâtés, or in stuffings. Some specialty cheeses contain truffles as well. Wikipedia says the flavor of black truffles is far less pungent and more refined than their white cousins. It is reminiscent of fresh earth, mushrooms, and when fresh, their scent fills a room almost instantly

Foodies of OOT: Tell me about your first experience eating a truffle seasoned meal!

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