Where do you stand on truffles?

August is here and so is the truffle hunting season in Italy. When it comes to truffles, most people either adore them and salivate at the thought of a nice risotto or they think they smell like a musty basement. I personally cannot stand the smell or the taste, but my Cuban husband who had no idea what truffles were until he arrived in Toronto thinks truffle oil makes everything, and I mean everything, taste great so he liberally drizzles over most of his food, even the sacred Cuban black beans and rice. So when we went to Italy, of course we had to go and hunt for truffles. We were in Piemonte, one of the best regions in Italy to hunt for the precious mushrooms. Unlike most mushrooms, truffles grow underground, so you need an expert hunter or a trifolau, to help you find them. And of course they grow in dense forests so the hunt is always a dirty and exhausting venture but if you are lucky enough to find one it’s like finding gold so it’s worth every moment even if you come out of the journey full of scratches and insect bites.

Truffle hunting season starts in August and ends in January. The winter months can be very wet so be ready for lots of mud and dampness. The three regions in Italy known for truffles are Piemonte, Umbria and Tuscany. Most people include truffle hunting as a part of a food and wine tour so that you can also discover the other culinary treasures Italy has to offer. The mountains in Piemonte are dotted with wineries which produce a variety of wines including the Dolcetto. Umbria is home to the Orvietto wines, Perugina chocolates and produces some of the best olive oils. And of course Tuscany is the embodiment of Italian culture and cuisine. So if you love food Italy is the place to be, and if you are there in the fall and winter, then you may want to trek in the woods looking for truffles. But if you prefer savouring to trekking, then you will have to settle for a drizzle and a whiff.

Tell us - where do you stand on truffles? Do you love them? Or are you like me and hold your nose when someone drops the oil onto their food?