Truffles have delighted gourmets, and inspired the best cooks since very ancient times. Simultaneously subtle and mysterious, they baffle both scientists and those who have endeavoured to fMd out what kMd of orgaMsm they are. For a long time they have been assigned various or even extravagant virtues. Between vegetal matter a. mineral matter, they have been accused of being witches' secret ingredient. Above all, truffles are the ultimate symbol of luxury and good taste. They have never left anyone indifferent and have aroused either the highest respect or the highest prai.. They are like small balls of earth and their coal black colour would make them look dull and sad if they did not hold in store a palette of exceptional flavours. Their history is associated with passion : passion from gastronomes who are fond of their myriad flavours, passion from kings who enjoyed their exceptional delicacy, passion from Serge Desaz.ars and other truffle-harvesters who strive to domesticate Aces and humbly control their production. But they also fascinate the French top chef Yannick Alleno and his counterparts whose culinary creations are perfected by the black diamond's flavour. Finally, passion is conveyed, in this book, through Chanel Koehl's pictures which pay tribute to truffles and those who share their attraction to the strange condiment. Once the quasi-Romanesqese story of the relationship between men and truffles has been revealed, this book invites t. reader to discover truffles in all their forms before sharing French top chefs' recipes and secrets to make the best use of all the flavours and subtleties of the strangely unusual mushrooms.

Ode to the Truffle

Elle ravit les gourmets et inspire les meilleurs cuisiniers depuis la plus haute Antiquité. Discrète et mystérieuse, elle déconcerte les scientifiques autant que ceux qui ont cherché à mieux la connaître. On lui a longtemps prêté des vertus variées sinon extravagantes. A mi-chemin entre le vivant et le minéral, elle s'est vu accuser d'être la complice des sorcières. Surtout, ce symbole achevé du luxe et du bon goût n'a jamais laissé personne indifférent, suscitant la plus grande vénération comme les éloges les plus lyriques... Elle, c'est la truffe, petite boule terreuse dont la couleur charbonnière pourrait sembler terne et triste si elle ne cachait une explosion de saveurs à la palette exceptionnelle. Son histoire est celle d'une passion. Passion des gastronomes pour ses mille et une richesses gustatives. Passion des rois pour un mets d'exception. Passion de Serge Desazard et des trufficulteurs qui cherchent à la domestiquer et qui, non sans humilité, s'efforcent d'en maîtriser la culture. Passion de Yannick Alléno et de ses homologues pour ce diamant noir qui sublime leurs créations. Passion encore que Chanel Koehl exprime dans ses clichés pour rendre hommage à la truffe et à ceux qui nous la font partager...

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