The Best Gourmet Truffle Treats For Home Cooks

It's truffle season, the time of year when white-gloved servers at fine dining restaurants proudly display fresh truffles from France and Italy, hand-selected by the chef, before generously shaving them atop your plate – making it rain. Truffles can be a pretentious luxury ingredient, but I adore their unmistakable earthy umami aroma. I remember once eating an entire truffle baked in puff pastry with a layer of foie gras mousse at Le Cinq in Paris. But for now, with travel but a dream, here are the best ways to enjoy truffle season at home.

Truffle Shuffle

San Francisco-based Truffle Shuffle has a great selection of fresh black and white winter truffles in stock, along with a truffle gift set that was features as one of Oprah's Favorite Things. Truffle Shuffle founders met while working at The French Laundry and wanted to bring the three-star Michelin experience of fresh truffles shaved tableside directly to foodies at home. Fresh truffles are directly imported from Europe four days a week, carefully wrapped and shipped overnight. Fresh truffles are best enjoyed in simple preparations – soft scrambled eggs, a creamy pasta or risotto or buttery mashed potatoes. The fat soaks up and amplifies the truffle's earthy fragrance. Virtual cook along video classes are available for purchase too, along with gifts like truffle carpaccio so you can enjoy truffles even when they aren't in season.

Trufflin

Another great source for fresh truffles is New York-based Trufflin, the same suppliers of truffles to Le Bernadin, Eleven Madison Park and Masa. They have fresh black winter truffles from France available from November through March, adding an indescribable earthy pop to any dish. The season for even more expensive, musky white winter Alba truffles just ended in December. All of their fresh truffles are vaccuum-sealed and shipped overnight to best preserve the tuber's pungent aroma. They've also created chef-approved black truffle ranch and black truffle sriracha sauces so you can enjoy truffles year-round. Try using these fancy condiments on a charred romaine salad, chicken wings or simply on potato chips.

TruffleHunter

UK-based TruffleHunter introduced a new range of products to the US market this winter. For more than a decade now, TruffleHunter has been one of the world's leading suppliers of fresh truffles and truffle products, sourcing black and white truffles from Europe, as well as some found closer to home, in southern England. Brittish and Scottish chefs like Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall, Tom Kitchin and Andrew Kojima are fans. All of the truffle products are produced in small batches and their black and white truffle oils contain real pieces of truffle, far superior to most truffle oils which are made of synthetic flavorings. The minced black truffle preserved in extra virgin olive oil makes for an impressive garnish on pasta, risotto, steak and eggs. And the black and white truffle condiment gift box includes an Acacia truffle honey that will elevate any cheese board. It's a beautiful pairing with nutty Alpine cheeses and parmesan.

Oliviers & Co

Oliviers & Co is best known for their collection of extra virgin olive oil and balsamic vinegar from Modena but they also have an extraordinary selection of truffle products, ranging from truffle-inufsed olive oils to porcini mushroom creamdotted with specks of black truffle. The Ligurian extra virgin olive oil infused with Alba truffles is absolutely divine and just a light drizzle atop a pasta (try the truffle linguine) or grilled seafood imbues it with the most heavenly aroma.

TRUFF Hot Sauce

Named in 2018 and 2019 to be one of Oprah’s Favorite Things, Truff is the best-selling sauce on Amazon, made with truffles from Northern Italy and organic agave nectar from Jalisco, Mexico. It's fruity and just spicy enough to perk up tastebuds without overwhelming the truffle aroma. Basically, the perfect topping for almost any savory food you might prepare. At breakfast, try it with chilaquiles, avocado toast or an English muffin breakfast sandwich. It's also great with stir-fry, any rice or quinoa bowl and as a marinade for meata. There are white truffle and extra spicy varieties available as well, but you won't get tired of the original.

Wood River Creamery Black Truffle Cheddar Gruyere

Wood River Creamery makes small batch cheese in Wisconsin, specializing in adventurous infusions like mango habanero, Herbes de Provence and fenugreek. Their black truffle cheddar gruyere is the king of the bunch though. This unique cheddar is made more like an Alpine-style gruyere and the buttery cheese is accented with Italian black truffles from Urbani Truffle Company. Try shredding it on pizza, pasta or in an omelette and it makes an aromatic addition to any cheese and charcuterie board.

Beautiful Briny Sea Truffle Honey Sea Salt

Atlanta-based Beautiful Briny Sea is known for their small-batch salt and sugar blends and their brand new truffle honey sea salt is a sweet and savory delight with a rich umami finish. Made with sea salt, granulated honey and Italian black truffles, it's a great topping for roasted carrots and other root vegetables, braised pork loin or mixed into a vinaigrette. Try sprinkling it on baked apple crisp, or to garnish frittatas, popcorn or fresh goat cheese. Since launching for the holidays in December, it's quickly become one of their top sellers.