Piedmont, Italy (A Forest Near Alba)
I Went Truffle Hunting With a Very Good Dog
A rare white truffle sold for €110,000 in Italy. I went looking for my own. The dog did most of the looking.
At a castle near Alba, Italy, the world white truffle auction raised €502,000 for charity. The final lot, a rare triple truffle weighing 1,009 grams, sold for €110,000 to a bidder in Hong Kong. White truffles grow underground, and dogs sniff them out. I went hunting with one.
My Hunting Log
9:00. Into the forest. The dog is called Bella. Bella is a professional.
9:20. I find a truffle! It’s a rock.
9:45. I find another truffle. It’s a different rock. I’m getting very good at rocks.
10:30. Bella stops and digs. She finds a truffle, a real one. I congratulate myself on bringing her.
10:31. Bella would like a biscuit. Negotiations begin. They end quickly. Bella gets the biscuit.
The Result
My truffle weighed nine grams. The final lot weighed 1,009. That means I’m only 1,000 grams behind the most famous truffle of the year, which is basically a tie, if you round it a lot.
I’m keeping mine. Bella gets the credit, and two more biscuits. I get the photo.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are white truffles so expensive?
They're rare and very hard to find. You need a great nose. Mine is great, but the dog's is better.
Did you eat yours?
On pasta, shaved very thin, like a professional. It was so thin I'm not sure it was there.