Truffle Hunting Day w/ an Italian local!

This will probably be the best part of our trip...

From the Airbnb website, I found this experience that just happened to be in my feed. I was introduced to the history and taste of truffles back in culinary school. Since then, I've had the knowledge about the rarity of truffles and the distinctive flavor profile I've established with them. Anyway, I saw this and had a very positive reaction into trying this experience with hunting for truffles instead of just purchasing them. I introduced this to Andrew and explained the importance of truffles -especially the rarity of it. As you all may know Andrew, he is always up for the experience. I bought it!! I was soooo fortunate and excited to be experiencing this as a Chef and knew that Andrew would have a great time learning new things!

Here are the Truffle hunting highlights:
- Berliner Toya with dogs Wendy and Uzi (not pictured, third dog Ringo)
- Walking on 2,000+ year old road from Rome to northern vicinities
- Success! the dogs unearthed different kinds of truffles
- Tips: under oak trees, alkaline soils (i.e. presence of limestone), places with exposed earth, generally NOT where grasses are growing.
- Visit from domestic roaming horses
- Multiple course lunch hosted by Claudia in Manziano (with connections in Austin, TX and Minneapolis, MN)
- Matteo's engaging experience and enterprising dogs
- Claudia's fabulous cooking
- After dinner drinks of grappa, mierto, and limoncello.

As soon as we arrived, we were greeted by these lovely horses...

The truffle hunting dogs!

Digging for truffle!

Lucy found this! 

What do you see in this picture besides free roaming horses? I'll let your imagination run wild. :)

 Beautiful country side of Italy away from tourists.

This one was a biggin'!

One the dogs chillin!

The best part... More Food!

Our amazing hosts cooked a six course meal for us... Using the truffles found hours before... Get ready to drool...

Claudia's house (the host's friend)

Their beautiful outdoor dining area where we enjoyed all of the meals.

Antipasto (first course):

 Truffle Bruschetta:

With mozz cheese:

Salami and romano:

 Truffle bean salad:

The lot of truffles the dogs found...

 Wash them first!

 Grated truffles!

Potato cake stuffed with truffles (second course)...

Zucchini and fried egg with shaved truffles (third course)...

 

 Handmade gemelli pasta (fourth course)...

Infusing the oil with truffle shavings.

Then put the pasta in...

 My dreams come true...

See that crunch? All dente'!!

Apricot cake (sixth course! Finally! Lol):
These apricots were fresh picked from their backyard...

Followed by conversations, wine, grappa, liminchello and expresso.

We. Were. Stuffed...

This experience was amazing and mind blowing. There are no words to explain this opportunity we just had. A reminder to appreciate the simple and finer things in life...