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 mélange 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 pasta and the tuber sharing top billing.  Similarly consider mashed sweet potatoes with truffles and bourbon, in which the humble sweet potato serves simply as the stylish delivery vehicle for the exotic mix of the other two flavors.

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 élan 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 mélange of flavour and textures, the newlyweds will admire and appreciate your thoughtfulness.

About the Author

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

Metal – huge signed modern textured stencil canvas white silver graffiti by hardeep

Copco 2510-9963 Acadia Reusable To-Go Mug, 16-Ounce Capacity $5.69 Stop throwing away countless foam cups and help protect the environment with this insulated, re-usable travel coffee cup from Copco. This white cup features a brown, non-slip grip that resembles the sleeve on disposable cups. The lid quarter turns to seal and lock in place, which helps to prevent leaks. The entire cup is insulated, which makes it perfect for retaining either heated or cold beverag…

Cuisinart DCC-1200 Brew Central 12-Cup Programmable Coffeemaker $165.00 A striking blend of retro style and modern technology. Programmable for brewing up to 24 hours in advance. Setting for 1 to 4 cups ensures full-bodied flavor and aroma. BrewPause™ feature lets you enjoy a cup before brewing is finished. Adjustable heater plate setting keeps coffee at the temperature you prefer. Audible “ready” signal. Automatic shutoff. Includes Gold Tone metal filter, #4 pap…

KitchenAid Artisan 5-Quart Stand Mixers $319.99 The legendary KitchenAid® Artisan Series® Stand Mixer is incredibly versatile. With all the available attachments, you can use it to make homemade pasta, stuff fresh sausage, whip up ice cream and give fruit a squeeze. No wonder generations of cooks have cherished theirs.Accessories Include:Pouring ShieldDough HookFlat BeaterWire WhipFeatures:10-speed slide control ranges from a very fast whip t…

White Flag $0.98 All products are BRAND NEW and factory sealed. Fast shipping and 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed….

White Houses $0.98 After a two year run as a studio project, guitarist/vocalist Sean Hoen and multi-instrumentalist Josh Machniak decided to form a permanent live band in an attempt to take their atmospheric, richly textured song craft to new heights. After releasing a retrospective collection of studio tracks (Collected Songs), Leaving Rouge enlisted Jason Vogel (bass) and Kari Buzelwski (piano/vocals) and began pe…

Ride A White Swan – Textured Sleeve T-Rex / Tyrannosaurus Rex Ride A White Swan – Textured Sleeve UK vinyl LP…

RoomMates RMK1439SLM Scroll Tree Peel & Stick Wall Decal MegaPack $35.00 …

Command 17001-VP-6PK Medium Plastic Hooks Value Pack $5.96 Utility hook with Command adhesive is quick and easy to put-up and take-down. The separate backing strip adheres firmly to flat surfaces–but will not damage wall when removed….

BECAUSE EVERY PICTURE HAS A STORY TO TELL Vinyl wall quotes family lettering home art decal decor $0.10 Wall quotes are one of the latest trends in home decor. This new fashion is the perfect way to express yourself or add that little extra touch to a room without breaking the bank. Vinyl wall quotes give the look of a hand-painted word, quote, or saying without the cost, time, and permanent paint on your wall. They are easy to apply and can be easily removed without damaging your walls. Our quotes …

Remington CI95AC/2 Tstudio Salon Collection Pearl Digital Ceramic Curling Wand …

Avery Matte Textured Note Cards $11.99 0% 3379 4.25″ x 5.50″ 50 / Box 50 x Card 50 x Envelope Cards/ Sheet: 2 Greeting cards, announcements and invitations. Create your own elegant greeting cards, announcements and invitations with these cards and your inkjet printer. The heavyweight textured card stock projects a quality look and feel. Cards come with matching envelopes. Inkjet printers. Avery Avery Dennison Inkjet Matte Matte Textured Note Cards No Note Card White www.avery.com

Avery Ink Jet Textured Postcards $10.99 0% 120 / Box 3380 4.25″ x 5.50″ InkJet Printers Uncoated Cards Cards per Sheet: 4 Sheets / Pkg: 30 Print your own elegant greeting cards, announcements and invitations with textured matte postcards and your inkjet printer. Heavyweight textured card stock creates a quality look and feel. Postcards come with matching envelopes. Ultra fine perforations let you separate cards cleanly and easily. Postcards meet U.S. postal regulations. Compatible with all inkjet printers. Avery offers many easy to use Avery templates for many other popular software programs. Avery Avery Dennison Ink Jet Textured Postcards Inkjet Invitation Card Matte No White www.avery.com

Quarter Turn Deck Plate Abs Deck Plate White Textured 8 $14.94 Quarter Turn Deck Plate Abs Deck Plate White Textured 8″ This deck plate is UV stabilized and features a new locking system that prevents over tightening, jamming and cross threading. A specially engineered lubricated gasket is used in conjunction with a knife edge for a leak tested seal. Easy to open and close

Avery Textured Half-Fold Greeting Cards $10.99 0% 30 / Box 3378 5.50″ x 8.50″ Half-Fold Greeting Cards Inkjet Printers Create your own elegant greeting cards, announcements and invitations with these cards and your inkjet printer. The heavyweight textured card stock projects a quality look and feel. Cards come with matching envelopes. Avery Avery Dennison Greeting Card Inkjet No Textured Half-Fold Greeting Cards White www.avery.com

Textured Slim Fit Pant $49.99 Textured Pant

Timeless Treasures Patriotic Textured Stars Blue $8.98 Designed for Timeless Treasures, this cotton print features red, white and blue stars on a dark blue background.

Textured Seersucker Cotton Shirt $65 Textured Seersucker Cotton Shirt

Cotton Dobby Textured Shirt $19.99 Cotton Dobby Textured Shirt

Textured Stripe Portfolio Tie $22.99 Textured Stripe Portfolio Tie

Textured Velvet Vest $49.99 Textured Velvet Vest

SANFORD TEXTURED SOLID TIE $39.5 SANFORD TEXTURED SOLID TIE