Truffle time.Foodies rejoice: The elusive "black diamond of Perigord," one of the world's most prized (and pungent pun·gent adj. 1. Affecting the organs of taste or smell with a sharp acrid sensation. 2. a. Penetrating, biting, or caustic: pungent satire. b. ) fungi, is at its prime from December through February in the Dordogne region of southwestern France. This complexly flavored black truffle truffle (trŭf`əl) [Fr.], subterranean edible fungus that forms a mutually beneficial (symbiotic) relationship with the roots of certain trees and plants. The part of the fungus used as food is the ascoma, the fruiting body of the fungus. , a tuber tuber, enlarged tip of a rhizome (underground stem) that stores food. Although much modified in structure, the tuber contains all the usual stem parts—bark, wood, pith, nodes, and internodes. that lies hidden in the ground beneath oak trees and must be sniffed out by dogs and pigs, is the prime ingredient in the finest foie gras foie gras (fwä grä) [Fr.,=fat liver], livers of artificially fattened geese. Ducks and chickens are also sometimes used in the making of foie gras. . If you can't make it to Dordogne this winter, gay tour operator Alyson Adventures (800-825-9766) is offering a "Truffles and Cave Bears" biking trip from June 9 to 16 that will include truffle tastings in medieval villages and a visit to the prehistoric cave drawings at Lascaux. |
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