I wonder if anyone has ever eaten a truffle ? <BR>If so was it good ? Can the taste be described ? I was thinking of trying a dish with truffles in the Dordogne.I know they are very expensive,but if people think they are worth it,I might give it a try.

well, i've never eaten whole truffle (not counting the chocolate kind!), but I've eaten many dishes with truffle in them and its wonderful. I think you should definitely give it a try when you are in France. Its hard to describe what it tastes like, kind of a rich, earthy flavor. Makes the food smell good too. I think truffles are one of those things that enhance other foods, rather than tasting great on their own. <BR> <BR>mmmm... risotto with truffles..yummy!

<BR>As Beth says, it is an earthy moldy kind of taste. Sort of like a deep rich <BR>essence of mushroom, but much more than that. It does wonders for food. <BR>One lesson I've learned. It a special dish that contains truffles is offered and the price is not indicated <BR>(perhaps the waiter is describing it orally as a daily special) be sure to ask the price of the dish. I was very badly (very very expensively) burned once.

I agree with the above description. It's like a very rich, creamy mushroom. I had it as a sauce with some steak in Perugia - absolutely scrumptious!

A really fresh truffle (within a few days of picking) also has a special fresh aroma and flavor, a little like the smell of corn while it's growing in a field. It's extremely potent. French housewives who buy fresh truffles store them with their eggs, before using them with foie gras. The eggs make wonderful, truffle-flavored omelettes, without any truffle in them at all. Fresh truffles are only available during the November-to-March season. They cost about $10 per mushroom at the truffle fair on Tuesday afternoons in Lalbenque, France. One truffle is enough to make an opulent dish for a family. My husband grates them, then rinses the grater with white wine, to get every last bit of the truffle flavor. Not standard French cuisine, but it works!

Thankyou very much.I really like mushrooms,so I will probably like the truffle.Peter Mayle, in his book, A Year in Provence, seemed to be always eating truffles,but he never described the taste.However If someone asked me to describe the taste of garlic,I wouldn't be able to. <BR>