truffles

[Connemmara]

there is talk of a truffle find in scotland I think - are they nice and exactly what are they I googled it there but could not get any suitable answers.

[ethandron]

they're a fungus that grows underground. i've never had actual truffle but have tried truffle oil which i found disgusting, sort of earthy/mouldy/dank celler/mud smell/flavour.
have a look here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Truffle_(fungus)

[Connemmara]

thanks Ethan - just know the French go after them a lot and have trained pigs to find them - and they are an expensive delicacy. I was just curious that's all. Thanks for your answer anyway

[jomifl]

I have eaten truffle(in very small amounts) and ethandron's description of the flavour is pretty close. It is an aquired taste which I haven't managed to aquire yet.

[Ice.Maiden]

Truffles are very expensive fungi which grow round the roots of trees. They DO smell earthy, but aren't meant to be eaten like a mushroom. Truffles are best grated onto pasta or rice dishes, or added to pates, and this can make the flavour beautiful, but you don't cook the actual truffles themselves. You gently clean the dirt away from them, and then grate or slice them directly onto prepared food, keeping the skin on.