I love truffles.Now I know what you're thinking, who doesn't love chocolate?! Chocolate truffles used to be the only kind of truffle I appreciated, but my time in Italy has shown me the beauty of the other kind of truffles.
The group that presented on truffles did such a wonderful job, I learned so much about them! Truffles are a fungus and come in all shapes and sizes and in a few different colors, though black and white are the most common. Truffles are incredibly expensive and hard to find (both in stores and while actually scavenging for them). To find them dogs (and sometimes pigs) are used because of their superior sense of smell. Although they are underground, usually found in the roots of oak and beech trees, these dogs and pigs are able to smell them and point their owners in the right direction. Although the truffles can be hard to find in stores, in Italy there are markets that make them easier to find. I found it fascinating that some vendors will try and join truffles together to make one large truffle because larger truffles have a better flavor profile. I also had no idea that truffles are best when eaten fresh, I didn't think it made a difference!
The group mentioned that Umbria is an area that is known for truffles, something that brought me back to our orientation trip to Umbria. The Umbria trip was where I discovered my love of the non-chocolate truffle. Since it was a regional specialty, I decided that I wanted to try it in as many ways as I could. Thankfully the Osteria my friends and I went to for dinner had a set 'truffle' menu that included an antipasti and a primi that had truffles in them. I had a bruschetta with a truffle tapenade and prosciutto. I loved how the saltiness of the prosciutto paired well with the earthiness of the truffle tapenade.
For my primi I was served a pasta tossed in garlic olive oil and truffle shavings. It was incredibly simple and basic, only three ingredients, but it was one of the most delicious meals that I have had here in Italy.
It was great learning more about what has become a new food obsession and being able to reflect on one of my first food experiences in Italy!
Ciao for now!
Veni. Vidi. Mangia.
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