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Truffles are a high premium mushroom variety that often commands prices way beyond their ordinary counterpart. It grows underground devoid of roots and it emits a distinctly appetising and delectable aroma that adds a punch of umami to any dish. Its hefty price, though, often raises not a few eyebrows. Several factors justify the high premium for this sought-after and much-hyped fungus.
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<a href="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/why-truffles-are-so-expenive-white-truffle-season-gafencu-magazine-3.png"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-53222" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/why-truffles-are-so-expenive-white-truffle-season-gafencu-magazine-3.png" alt="why truffles are so expenive white truffle season gafencu magazine (3)" width="700" height="466" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/why-truffles-are-so-expenive-white-truffle-season-gafencu-magazine-3.png 700w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/why-truffles-are-so-expenive-white-truffle-season-gafencu-magazine-3-200x133.png 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/why-truffles-are-so-expenive-white-truffle-season-gafencu-magazine-3-421x280.png 421w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/why-truffles-are-so-expenive-white-truffle-season-gafencu-magazine-3-120x80.png 120w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/why-truffles-are-so-expenive-white-truffle-season-gafencu-magazine-3-500x333.png 500w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/why-truffles-are-so-expenive-white-truffle-season-gafencu-magazine-3-400x266.png 400w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/why-truffles-are-so-expenive-white-truffle-season-gafencu-magazine-3-600x399.png 600w" sizes="(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px" /></a>
Rare
Truffles are&nbsp;pricey simply because of their very limited supply. It normally takes six to&nbsp;seven years to grow and harvest truffles in very short seasons. Finding them is&nbsp;also extremely difficult and requires highly-trained dogs or even pigs to sniff 
them as they grow underground. White truffles from Italy are the rarest and&nbsp;most expensive type, with the shortest season lasting only between October and&nbsp;December, but they certainly pack a strong punch than other types.&nbsp;
<a href="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/why-truffles-are-so-expenive-white-truffle-season-gafencu-magazine-6.png"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-53224" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/why-truffles-are-so-expenive-white-truffle-season-gafencu-magazine-6.png" alt="why truffles are so expenive white truffle season gafencu magazine (6)" width="700" height="466" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/why-truffles-are-so-expenive-white-truffle-season-gafencu-magazine-6.png 700w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/why-truffles-are-so-expenive-white-truffle-season-gafencu-magazine-6-200x133.png 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/why-truffles-are-so-expenive-white-truffle-season-gafencu-magazine-6-421x280.png 421w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/why-truffles-are-so-expenive-white-truffle-season-gafencu-magazine-6-120x80.png 120w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/why-truffles-are-so-expenive-white-truffle-season-gafencu-magazine-6-500x333.png 500w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/why-truffles-are-so-expenive-white-truffle-season-gafencu-magazine-6-400x266.png 400w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/why-truffles-are-so-expenive-white-truffle-season-gafencu-magazine-6-600x399.png 600w" sizes="(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px" /></a>
Difficult to grow
Truffles in&nbsp;the wild are hard to find, prompting growth of truffle-dedicated farms to meet demands&nbsp;of the market. Growing truffles require a specific technique of inoculating&nbsp;truffle spores with roots of young oak, pine or hazel trees and cultivating 
soil. Results, though, aren’t always successful since determining the maturity&nbsp;of the spores is difficult and requires delicate care when harvesting.
Ideal&nbsp;weather conditions also play a big role in growing truffle. Mediterannean and&nbsp;European regions are well-known producers of high-quality truffle species&nbsp;because their climatic conditions that offer ample rain in summer and humid&nbsp;winters.&nbsp;
<a href="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/why-truffles-are-so-expenive-white-truffle-season-gafencu-magazine-4.png"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-53223" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/why-truffles-are-so-expenive-white-truffle-season-gafencu-magazine-4.png" alt="why truffles are so expenive white truffle season gafencu magazine (4)" width="700" height="466" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/why-truffles-are-so-expenive-white-truffle-season-gafencu-magazine-4.png 700w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/why-truffles-are-so-expenive-white-truffle-season-gafencu-magazine-4-200x133.png 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/why-truffles-are-so-expenive-white-truffle-season-gafencu-magazine-4-421x280.png 421w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/why-truffles-are-so-expenive-white-truffle-season-gafencu-magazine-4-120x80.png 120w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/why-truffles-are-so-expenive-white-truffle-season-gafencu-magazine-4-500x333.png 500w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/why-truffles-are-so-expenive-white-truffle-season-gafencu-magazine-4-400x266.png 400w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/why-truffles-are-so-expenive-white-truffle-season-gafencu-magazine-4-600x399.png 600w" sizes="(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px" /></a>
Short life span
Truffles&nbsp;have very short lifespans, quickly losing their luster the longer they are out&nbsp;of the ground. After they are cut, fresh truffles quickly decay and they often last&nbsp;for less than a week. What needs to be done is to carefully wrap truffles in an 
absorbent paper or clean dry towel inside a sealed container before placing them&nbsp;in the chiller to extend their lifespan by a couple of weeks.
France is&nbsp;home to the best summer black truffles and are more affordable compared to rare&nbsp;wild truffles grown during longer seasons from October to April. They can be&nbsp;frozen for up to three months, although the longer they are stored in low 
temperatures, the more they get hit by moisture formation and aroma loss.&nbsp;
<a href="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/why-truffles-are-so-expenive-white-truffle-season-gafencu-magazine-5.png"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-53229" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/why-truffles-are-so-expenive-white-truffle-season-gafencu-magazine-5.png" alt="why truffles are so expenive white truffle season gafencu magazine (5)" width="700" height="466" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/why-truffles-are-so-expenive-white-truffle-season-gafencu-magazine-5.png 700w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/why-truffles-are-so-expenive-white-truffle-season-gafencu-magazine-5-200x133.png 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/why-truffles-are-so-expenive-white-truffle-season-gafencu-magazine-5-421x280.png 421w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/why-truffles-are-so-expenive-white-truffle-season-gafencu-magazine-5-120x80.png 120w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/why-truffles-are-so-expenive-white-truffle-season-gafencu-magazine-5-500x333.png 500w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/why-truffles-are-so-expenive-white-truffle-season-gafencu-magazine-5-400x266.png 400w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/why-truffles-are-so-expenive-white-truffle-season-gafencu-magazine-5-600x399.png 600w" sizes="(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px" /></a>
Distinct flavour and smell
There are&nbsp;thousands of species and sub-species of truffles around the world, each with&nbsp;its own pungent but delectable aroma. Some that aren’t even edible. The most&nbsp;expensive species that are known to pack a punch of umami flavours are&nbsp;Kalahari, Périgord black and Italian winter white.&nbsp;
<a href="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/why-truffles-are-so-expenive-white-truffle-season-gafencu-magazine-italian-white-truffle.png"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-53234" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/why-truffles-are-so-expenive-white-truffle-season-gafencu-magazine-italian-white-truffle.png" alt="why truffles are so expenive white truffle season gafencu magazine italian white truffle" width="700" height="466" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/why-truffles-are-so-expenive-white-truffle-season-gafencu-magazine-italian-white-truffle.png 700w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/why-truffles-are-so-expenive-white-truffle-season-gafencu-magazine-italian-white-truffle-200x133.png 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/why-truffles-are-so-expenive-white-truffle-season-gafencu-magazine-italian-white-truffle-421x280.png 421w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/why-truffles-are-so-expenive-white-truffle-season-gafencu-magazine-italian-white-truffle-120x80.png 120w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/why-truffles-are-so-expenive-white-truffle-season-gafencu-magazine-italian-white-truffle-500x333.png 500w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/why-truffles-are-so-expenive-white-truffle-season-gafencu-magazine-italian-white-truffle-400x266.png 400w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/why-truffles-are-so-expenive-white-truffle-season-gafencu-magazine-italian-white-truffle-600x399.png 600w" sizes="(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px" /></a>
Quality
It is always difficult and expensive to obtain top-notch quality&nbsp;truffles. This has prompted many establishments to come up with alternatives to&nbsp;market their products&nbsp;with&nbsp;“truffle” and a steep&nbsp;price&nbsp;that&nbsp;disappoint&nbsp;customers.
For instance, when truffle oil was first introduced to the market it&nbsp;gained much hype, but it quickly became one of the least favourite ingredients of&nbsp;high-end chefs since most truffle oils do not actually contain any truffles. They&nbsp;are simply synthesized products made to imitate the characteristics of the rare fungi.&nbsp;
<a href="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/why-truffles-are-so-expenive-white-truffle-season-gafencu-magazine-shavings.png"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-53235" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/why-truffles-are-so-expenive-white-truffle-season-gafencu-magazine-shavings.png" alt="why truffles are so expenive white truffle season gafencu magazine shavings" width="700" height="466" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/why-truffles-are-so-expenive-white-truffle-season-gafencu-magazine-shavings.png 700w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/why-truffles-are-so-expenive-white-truffle-season-gafencu-magazine-shavings-200x133.png 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/why-truffles-are-so-expenive-white-truffle-season-gafencu-magazine-shavings-421x280.png 421w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/why-truffles-are-so-expenive-white-truffle-season-gafencu-magazine-shavings-120x80.png 120w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/why-truffles-are-so-expenive-white-truffle-season-gafencu-magazine-shavings-500x333.png 500w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/why-truffles-are-so-expenive-white-truffle-season-gafencu-magazine-shavings-400x266.png 400w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/why-truffles-are-so-expenive-white-truffle-season-gafencu-magazine-shavings-600x399.png 600w" sizes="(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px" /></a>
Cost
The high premium of a truffle varies between origin, species and weight. While a frozen Italian summer black truffle would&nbsp; cost HK$950 for 500g, the Italian white truffle from Alba would rake up HK$22,500 for the equivalent weight. Truffle dishes at restaurants are even more astounding as dishes are often&nbsp; garnished with only a pinch to a few shavings, but it will set you back between HK$500 to over $1000 per dish. To guarantee the most value-for-money truffle meal, enquire on the origin and species of the truffle, the extra charge on a high-quality truffle will be more satisfying than paying for a more affordable option.

why truffles are so expenive white truffle season gafencu magazine feature

Why truffles are value-for-money

Observing Riccardo Catarsi, head chef of Nicholini’s, Conrad Hong Kong, in the kitchen is like watching a true master at work. With culinary connoisseurship clearly the building blocks of his DNA, the kitchen is his world. And, given his eclectic embrace of all the very finest internationally-sourced ingredients, it is equally fair to say, the world is very much his kitchen.
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-40266" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/1.jpg" alt="Nicholini’s" width="700" height="466" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/1.jpg 700w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/1-200x133.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/1-421x280.jpg 421w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/1-120x80.jpg 120w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/1-500x333.jpg 500w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/1-400x266.jpg 400w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/1-600x399.jpg 600w" sizes="(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px" />
A native of Tuscany, Chef Riccardo Catarsi was a keen student of the region’s enviable culinary heritage, although he quickly learnt to supplement it with a contemporary twist that was quite his own. Today, he sums up his approach to producing the singularly appetising fare, for which he is rightly renowned, as “steeped in the past, while looking to the future”.
While the theory sounds great, can it weather a true-life taste-test? Thankfully, the answer here is most definitely in the affirmative. Indeed, exhibits A-E in our hastily-convened court of culinary contemplation came courtesy of the seasonal Five-course&nbsp;White Truffles Tasting Menu.
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-40267" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/2.jpg" alt="Nicholini’s" width="700" height="466" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/2.jpg 700w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/2-200x133.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/2-421x280.jpg 421w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/2-120x80.jpg 120w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/2-500x333.jpg 500w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/2-400x266.jpg 400w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/2-600x399.jpg 600w" sizes="(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px" />
From the very first serving – Lobster with Mediterranean radish, celery root and white truffle – the breadth and depth of the chef’s ambition became more than apparent. The succulent pieces of Boston lobster, slow-cooked in butter, were ably counter-pointed by the crunchy radish and the smooth mashed potato – all coalescing into a satisfying whole, thanks to a unifying dollop or two of lobster bisque.
Should further proof have been required, this was certainly furnished by the second serving – Wagyu carpaccio, pan-seared foie gras with chanterelle mushroom and white truffle. All in all, a sumptuous sequel, with the three gourmand-gratifying components all competing for top billing, but losing out to a tactically-cunning cameo from the ever-wondrous white truffles.
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-40268" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/3.jpg" alt="Nicholini’s" width="700" height="466" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/3.jpg 700w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/3-200x133.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/3-421x280.jpg 421w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/3-120x80.jpg 120w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/3-500x333.jpg 500w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/3-400x266.jpg 400w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/3-600x399.jpg 600w" sizes="(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px" />
With our palates still reeling from strikes one and two, Riccardo Catarsi remained relentless, with Tortelli with ox tail, porcini mushrooms, red wine sauce and white truffle soon table-bound. A Tuscan stuffed-pasta dish par excellence, here the Euro guru was clearly on home turf, with his self-confidence goading him into a wanton flourish with the addition of a slightly-sweet red wine sauce. Was it a garnish too far and the sole own goal of the night? Of course not – in fact, it was the perfect counterbalance to the savoury, melt-in-the-mouth tortellis.
If the entrées hadn’t sufficed to dismiss any putative case of unfine foodiness, then either of the main courses would have seen all the jurors dispatched homewards, Signor Catarsi cleared of all charges and awarded costs against any culinary critic who had ever doubted his memorable meal-making mettle. Indeed, the Vitello, brussel sprouts, mixed wild mushrooms, Tuscan pork cheek and white truffle alone would have been enough to clear the court, with the fore-fronted fungi formidably enhancing the appeal of the pork-veal combo with its appetite-arousing aroma.
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-40269" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/4.jpg" alt="Nicholini’s" width="700" height="466" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/4.jpg 700w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/4-200x133.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/4-421x280.jpg 421w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/4-120x80.jpg 120w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/4-500x333.jpg 500w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/4-400x266.jpg 400w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/4-600x399.jpg 600w" sizes="(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px" />
It was the alternate main course – Monkfish, Parma ham, chard, pumpkin and white truffle – that, however, proved to be the most exquisitely-executed dish of the evening. The fish, first slow-cooked and then wrapped in culatello Parma ham, was pan-fried to perfection to seal its savoury succour.
The end result was a mighty morsel of monkfish, decadently draped in a subtly-sweet, truffle-infused sauce – a truly incredible culinary creation. Our only regret with regard to this devastatingly delicious dish – and one that could equally apply to every single serving, if not the entirety of the evening – was that it was gone all too soon. That, though, ladies and gentlefolk, is reason enough for repeat bookings till the end of December, when the white truffle season officially draws to a close.
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
<div style="width: 640px;" class="wp-video">
<video class="wp-video-shortcode" id="video-40264-1" width="640" height="360" autoplay="1" preload="metadata" controls="controls"><source type="video/mp4" src="https://www.igafencu.com/video/1811/1811_GMHK_Restaurant_Nicholinis.mp4?_=1" /><a href="https://www.igafencu.com/video/1811/1811_GMHK_Restaurant_Nicholinis.mp4">https://www.igafencu.com/video/1811/1811_GMHK_Restaurant_Nicholinis.mp4</a></video></div>
&nbsp;
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
Nicholini’s 
Level 8, Conrad Hong Kong 
Pacific Place, 88 Queensway, Hong Kong 
Tel: (852) 2822 8801 
<a href="http://www.conraddining.com">www.conraddining.com</a>
Text: Suchetana Mukhopadhyay

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Why truffles are value-for-money

Chef Riccardo Catarsi’s approach to gourmandry gifts Nicholini’s its nicely up-market niche