In the hands of chocolatier Thomas Scheiblhofer, high-quality chocolate is turned into beautifully presented truffles.
Because truffles have such a short shelf life, a delay could cost thousands of dollars.
"Thirty thousand pounds of truffles are imported to the U.S. every year, " says Purkayastha.
To start, try the celery root velout with shaved truffles or the organic cherry tomato-and-goat-cheese galette.
Last year, says Ms. Hummel, "meats, truffles, special cheeses and limited-production oysters" were particularly popular.
It is only in between these two extremes that black truffles' character fully reveals itself.
WSJ: Eric Ripert's Truffle and Fall Vegetable Tagliatelle | Slow Food Fast
Purkayastha, then a high school senior, devoted half of his time to schoolwork and the other half to truffles.
Products that have been subject to an export "blacklist" have included chocolate, pork, Roquefort cheese, mustard, onions and truffles.
The latter use seasonal produce whenever possible, so strawberry truffles are only made when fresh strawberries are in season.
In fact, scientists have detected a steroid compound in black truffles that triggers amorous urges in those foraging pigs.
WSJ: Eric Ripert's Truffle and Fall Vegetable Tagliatelle | Slow Food Fast
The caramel praline cups, pineapple butter creams and curacao orange liqueur truffles are designed to lure even the most reluctant sweet-toothed visitor.
Puck devotees will recognize a few favorites from nearby Spago, including house made agnolotti topped with seasonal shaved truffles.
FORBES: An Inside Look At Wolfgang Puck's New Restaurant At Hotel Bel-Air
Less aromatic than white truffles, black diamonds have a rougher, nut-like exterior and are usually found in cooked dishes.
Purkayastha also wants to extend the selling season for truffles by expanding PAQ's product line with longer-lasting truffle oils and jams.
Any truffle, a type of mushroom, is pricey but white truffles are the most prized, partly because they are so rare.
He spread 50 tons of lyme to make the soil acidic enough for truffles, which will take four years to mature.
"We are always fully booked and Mauro really enjoys creating a special menu with truffles and foie gras, " said a spokesperson.
WSJ: Bruce Palling on Food: Where's the Love? Chefs Dread the V Word
Both the vegetables and the pasta, though not nearly as delicate as the truffles, boil only briefly, until perfectly al dente.
WSJ: Eric Ripert's Truffle and Fall Vegetable Tagliatelle | Slow Food Fast
For a fantastic introduction to the world of truffles, Italy is packed with truffle fairs and festivals in October and November.
This adventure takes you to a region, San Miniato, where these precious white truffles grow just a few inches below the soil.
After graduating from high school, Purkayastha enrolled in Manhattan's Baruch College but dropped out during orientation week to focus fulltime on truffles.
The chef uses seasonal ingredients in dishes such as Arctic char with leeks and capers and hay-roasted sunchokes with black winter truffles.
Both in Italy and in France, truffle hunters train dogs like the Lagotto Romagnolo to sniff out the elusive underground truffles.
Cooking with black truffles also demands the full engagement of your senses.
WSJ: Eric Ripert's Truffle and Fall Vegetable Tagliatelle | Slow Food Fast
Sometimes his father would go to the airport and pick up the truffles so that Purkayastha could ship them out the same night.
When you have a lunch of pasta with white truffles, followed by the typical roast pork, porchetta, you have no sense of deprivation.
FORBES: Taking The Waters In Italy, Part 2-A Designer Spa In A 13th Century Assisi Convent
He provides enough exotic truffles to sate the appetites of the historical obsessives, but he also provides plenty of food for more normal tastes.
Pick up some champagne truffles at La Maison du Chocolat, or stop by Kee's Chocolate, where you can see the chocolate being made next door.
When sous-chef Barry Frish emerged from the kitchen, Purkayastha produced two items from his bag: a balsamic vinegar made with truffles and a truffle-acacia honey.
Try her signature Rock, Pebble, Chocolate, warm and cool truffles, bon bons and almond cream that looks like the name implies and tastes just great!
FORBES: Wolfgang Puck's Spago Turns 30 - Now Better Than Ever
应用推荐