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Thursday 1 September 2011

The Most Expensive, Exquisite Food in the World!

In the world of gourmet foods, there is one treasure that is literally worth its weight in gold. Truffles are the pinnacle of gourmet.  As one of the most sought after foods in the world, is only used in the highest of high cuisine, except in parts of Northern Italy and Umbria where Tartufi are a key ingredient in local dishes.


Truffles are related to mushrooms with their root-like structures but never emerge from the surface. They form below the soil close to a tree's root system, living off its nutrients like another type of ‘fruit'.  The reason why it is so unbelievably expensive is that once the fungus is attached to a root, it produces just one truffle per year from that tree.


Harvested from late summer to early spring by experienced gatherers known as trifolau, they are a secretive lot that keep their special truffle groves to themselves, often taking long winding paths at night or in the early morning fog to confuse those that would try to follow. They have very guarded conversations with each other, lest any "trade secrets" are leaked. These men are the masters of the poker face; you can never tell if it had been a good harvest day or bad - they would never give out that kind of information. This secrecy has ensured that these rare edibles are still around for us to enjoy and not ravaged by poachers, who would not dig with the care to preserve the truffle forming fungus underground. The trifolau does have some help in his hunt, as the actual finding of the truffle is done by either a trained pig or by a mongrel dog (it is said pedigree dogs cannot smell truffles) with its superior sense of smell. Without these four-legged friends, truffles would be virtually unheard of.


Harvested in a time-honored tradition that has little to do with gourmet sophistication, harvest season is a time of celebration for both truffle harvesters (trifolau) and the towns that host the ever-popular truffle festivals. A visit to Piemont or Umbria in autumn will reward you with culinary gold in the form of a variety of regional specialties graced with freshly shaved truffles, probably harvested that very morning.  A gastronomique treat for all who are lucky enough to take part.



Quick - Special Offer details for a Gastronomique Weekend:


We give you a fantastic chance to spend a week end on a truffle quest at the 27th Santagatafeltria National Truffle Fair where the village main square is turned into a huge eating area and all the local restaurants will serve their best traditional dishes using only the best truffle, porcini mushroom and other local autumn produce. You will also have a choice of a Gastronomique Tour Bonanza with wine, cheese and olive oil tasting and lunch in local trattoria or a chance to go back in time with the Cultural and Historical Tour visiting the Medieval Towns of Santarcangelo and Verucchio with their museum, fortress and historical caves. A rare opportunity to enjoy a pure week end of Gastronomique enjoyment and cultural discovery.  http://www.loveitaly.co.uk/special-offers-more.asp?Offer=290


 



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