TIP: White Truffles (Tuber spp) rival the Perigord Black Truffle in fame. Yet did you know there are two different white truffle species of nearly equal culinary value? And one grows right here in America-- and is still relatively affordable. The White Truffle of Italy (Tuber magnatum) commands the highest prices. But the rising star known as the Oregon White Truffle (Tuber oregonense) is native to North America and was declared by James Beard to be of equal culinary value to its rich Italian relative.
Here’s another tip: You’ll want to avoid most truffle oils. They’re often a totally synthetic hoax, made without truffles, or sometimes featuring a flake of cheap truffle for show. For many chefs, it’s fresh truffles or no truffles.
