Hunting for Truffle

 

Most who know me well know that I am a Minnesota girl at heart.  I am proud of where I am from for reasons which have been previously mentioned, but mostly for the fact that Minnesota is beautiful and full of the God-given gifts of wildlife, wild foods, and the forest.  Is that convincing enough?

I've been talking a lot about what I love most about the Land of 10,000 Lakes to many of my classmates, who are probably getting sick of it by now.  "Please come visit, I know you'll love it!' is my usual request.  One of the main things I rattle on about is the ways in which we can procure food in Minnesota.  I love that I can go into the "wild" and collect berries and mushrooms, we can cultivate wild rice and maple syrup, and that we can hunt and fish to stock up for the year.

Now I know that this is, in fact, feasible in all parts of the world and that Minnesota isn't particularly unique, but I believe I appreciate this fact having grown up and being a part of the use of the land in this way.  An example of this procurement in Piemonte, Italy?  Truffle hunting.  I am not only fortunate enough to live in this region of Italy, but I got to participate in the hunting (gathering?) of this high-esteemed mushroom of sorts.  A quick warning, though, this is not the typical mushroom hunt.  It's not like in Minnesota when you are riding (rollerblading) on the bike trail, see some mushrooms on the side of the path, and pick them up for later cooking and consumption.  Oh no, this is serious stuff.

Stefano was our guide.  Not as integral to our guide was his cute little dog Kira.  We met him just outside of the small town of Alba, where we trekked through the woods in search of the famous fungi.  Apparently one can obtain the white truffles (of which we found two) for a steep price of no less than 3000 euro per kilo.  Yes, you read that right!  I love a frugal find, and the fact that I could find an expensive and glorified delicacy in the woods was right up my alley (or wooded path in this case).  The taste: nothing compares; it is earthy and meaty in the expected mushroom kind-of way, but somehow more unique.  We whipped up dishes from pumpkin soup to risotto to eggs with added distinct truffle aroma.  It is the best addition for a truly rare flavor.  One of my friends suggested slicing it between butter, leaving it for a day, then using the butter for whatever your fancy--Yumm.






The fact that I love mushrooms in Minnesota (both the hunting and the eating) should not come as a  surprise that I came to live in the land of the famed truffle in Italy -- my senses suitably led me.  But, alas, my senses will also lead me back home to Minnesota the Beautiful where I will again hunt for the morel, the chanterelle, and the bolete.  

Salute!

To add a little to this description of the truffle hunt, I will add this video done by my classmate Catherine Desforges of our day out in the Piemonte woods.  Thank you, my friend, for this.  It was perfectly captured.  Enjoy:

Thank you, also, to Kerstin Bergmann and Rose Colon for the pictures!

A Full Life

To learn by doing – this is the way to reach understanding in my mind.  I can honestly say that until I do and experience can I really know. 

This is my excuse for some of the choices I have made in my life thus far.  I never want to look back and ask myself, “What if?”  Through every experience, what arises is new perspective; insight into the world, myself, and those around me.  I have come to appreciate areas of life I would maybe not have prior.

I am, of course, mostly talking about my choice to study in Italy, but these thoughts come from every adventure trail I seem to travel down.  For some reason I choose the rocky path, the one that looks like it goes uphill, with potholes along the way and running waters to cross over.

I believe the reason for these advancements in my life is that it truly fulfills me to do so.  I enjoy challenge and I feel that I always benefit when hard work is accomplished. 

My latest question, though, is why do I always choose the laborious route?  Why don’t I allow life’s simplicity to fulfill me? 

I think in the end it comes down to balance.  I know that in order to let my light shine and be the person I am put on this earth to be that I need structure of some sort – a system where I can put forth my best and receive the satisfaction of a good and fair job well done.  However, I also know it is important to be happy and content – I need to realize that I am worth enough to and truly enjoy and get the most of the life I’ve been blessed with.  

I’ve said it before, but I need to keep repeating that the key is balance : a condition in which different elements are equal or in the correct proportions : an equilibrium in body mind and spirit. 

As a reminder that my best is often more than enough, I will continue along these paths, knowing I am not always in charge of the directions they go.  I will continue to persist in my full life, keeping the often crazy with the seldom quiet in equilibrium.