White truffle ◆

Truffe blanche d’Alba

What it is

The black truffle submitted to orchards long ago; the white of Alba never has — every one is found wild, by dog and secret, in a few Piedmont valleys in autumn. The great specimens are auctioned at Grinzane Cavour castle to bidders on satellite link, and Rossini reportedly crowned the truffle “the Mozart of mushrooms”.

In the kitchen

It must never see the pan: shave it raw, at the table, over hot silk — buttered pasta, risotto, a fried egg. The heat below is what unlocks it.

Goes with

Egg Rice Butter Parmesan Potato

Same species

Bagnoli truffle Bianchetto truffle Musky truffle Burgundy truffle Chinese truffle Oregon white truffle

Also used with

Fontina Valle d’Aosta

In season alongside

Goose Formaggio di Fossa Black truffle Bay bolete Woodcock Black trumpet

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