| |
 |
| From twilight until deep into the night, when the contours of the hills of the towns of Langhe, Roero, Monregalese, and Monferrato are blurred by the autumnal fog and the cold is beginning to bite, a few men set out in the company of their trusted dogs to follow imaginary routes that have been jealously guarded in their memories, passing over gorges and hills, in what has become a pilgrimage among poplar and linden trees and deep into the forests of oak and willow.
Thus begins the search for the unique white truffles of the Piedmont region that takes place each year from September to December, when truffles-hunters - locally knows as trifolau - unleash their dogs in what is a thrilling and fascinating contest that will be the subject of stories in the local inns throughout the winter months.
For centuries, the truffle was believed to grow wherever lightening struck, the Greeks and Romans considered it to be an excellent aphrodisiac and Emperor Charles V is said to have enjoyed one during a memorable dinner in Alba in 1537. Rossini, a truffle connoisseur, called the white truffle "the Mozart of mushrooms," while Byron kept one on his desk to stimulate his creativity. More recently, Rita Hayworth and Winston Churchill are among those who have sung its praises as well as gourmets around the world who appreciate the unique nature of this rare variety of truffles. |
|
|
