Homage to Truffle Hunting Pigs in France

Saturday night, I served a fancy pork terrine bought in the Loire Valley to friends in town for the Black Truffle Festival. That bite of pork could have been my last. I’m in love with pigs.

I’ve always been attracted to pigs, namely Porky Pig, Piglet, Babe, and Miss Piggy. However, the attraction never kept me from having more than my share of pork barbecue, pork chops, ham, and bacon. Yesterday, though, I fell under the spell of a truffle-hunting pig. She was awesome. Continue reading here to see Barefoot Blogger’s photos from the Black Truffle Festival in Uzès.

Truffle Markets

It is more common to see summer truffles in the markets than in the past. However, this summer tuber may be related to the “Black Diamond,” but the taste is certainly not as distinctive. There is also a significant price differential between the summer and winter varieties. The black truffle will command about ten times the price (per kilo) compared to summer truffles in peak months. In the South of France (Provence, Occitane, Gard, Dordogne), the black truffle is typically harvested between November and early March. You will find weekly truffle markets in the several locations during these months, but go early!