Personally overwhelmed by the all-encompassing scent of a freshly dug truffle, Jacobsen...determines to find the secrets behind the subterranean fungus ... A worldwide catalog of truffle resources invites exploration, and some recipes give ideas for using the bounty.
... an engaging work that blends history with travel and food writing ... Jacobsen delves into the sometimes twisting history of this food, as well as into the science that makes truffle farming possible. Even as he examines the fungi’s complex history and analyzes questions about who gets access to truffles, Jacobsen’s writing remains accessible, unlike the costly object of his desire ... a compelling story, but Jacobsen doesn’t leave readers empty-handed when the tale ends. The book also includes a glossary of truffle types, resources for acquiring your own truffles and recipes for after the decadent fungi arrives. It’s an appropriate finish to a delicious book.
Jacobsen captivates with this dual narrative, both an eloquent and sensuous treatise on truffles and the enthralling story of his obsessive quest to learn everything there is to know about them ... The real delicacy here, though, is the arresting prose used to convey his reverence and awe ... 'No words can do justice to the scent of a white truffle.' While that may be true, Jacobsen definitely comes close.
A Mark Kurlansky–esque romp through the science, history, and culture surrounding that most elusive of foodstuffs, the truffle ... The author depicts a culture of truffle finding, trading, and eating that is as complex as the aromatic stew of ingredients that goes into one, and he commits to paper lovely images that combine both intrigue and a certain level of surrealism ... It’s an altogether delightful narrative ... Fans of pungent flavors—and pungent prose—will enjoy this mouthwatering grand tour of a culinary treasure.
