Inspired in Assisi Italy

“AHA! Could this really be the eighth wonder of the world?!”

I exclaimed loudly, the words tumbling from my mouth with sheer abandon, as I stumbled across my very first sighting of the infamous black truffle, deep in the heart of the Umbrian hills.

The day had begun, as all good days do, with an energising breakfast of espresso and ciambelline al vino – the perfect fuel for a day of foraging, with my good friend Giovanni at my side and his trusty hound Alfonso at our feet.

Into the early morning mist we set off, passing fields of durum wheat and vineyards before delving into the soft blanket of woodland ahead, making our way deeper into the tree.

“What a time to be alive!” Giovanni exclaimed. What a time indeed! With Alfonso the hound keen and ready to catch any scents in the air, his paws bounding along the forest floor as his nose led the way, it didn’t take us long to uncover our very first black truffle – and what a beauty she was. Soft, earthy and marvellously distinct, I am surely yet to find a gift of nature with such a unique and special aroma.

“Giovanni, it’s an inspiration!” I cried, as my mind immediately broke into a thousand different ideas on how best to use this captivating ingredient within my recipes. But what could possibly pair with such a powerful and distinctive taste as the truffle? It was at that moment that Giovanni handed me a salted nut with a rueful smile, and it was there that the seed for one of my best taste sensations yet was sown….

“Italian Black Truffle Mixed Nuts”; the perfect mixture of saltiness and truffle, truly a match made in heaven!

After scribbling the details furiously in my notebook, it was time to leave the embrace of the woodland and head back to the town of Assisi for a well-earned home cooked meal – because, as I always say, nothing tastes better than a meal you have worked hard for!

Tempting as it was to return to the Umbrian hills the very next day for more black truffle foraging, the lure of discovering more incredible snack inspirations was calling. Armed with my trusty notebook and the foundations of my very first Italian Black Truffle Mixed Nuts recipe in my back pocket, I knew it was time to embark on a new adventure…

Onto the next taste sensation!