Black trumpet

Trompette de la mort

What it is

The French name means “trumpet of death” — pure slander for one of the finest mushrooms in the forest, black as a shadow and nearly invisible against the leaf litter. Foragers call finding a patch “reading the void”; chefs call it the poor man’s truffle and dry it into winter gold.

In the kitchen

Split each trumpet lengthwise to evict hidden needles and sand. Dried and ground, it becomes a black seasoning powder that electrifies eggs and cream sauces.

Goes with

Egg Cream Chestnut Parmesan Garlic

Same species

Winter chanterelle

In season alongside

Figatellu Ajvar Antep pistachio Woodcock Blackberry Charolais

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