Black Truffles in SF or East Bay?

[techindahaus]

Can someone tell me where and who is selling whole black truffles in the Bay Area? Any market or specialty stores?

[Kirk_T]

Ferry Building Far West Funghi had summer black truffle for, I believe, $52 an ounce. The truffles were in the 30s and 40s range. Almost no smell of truffle at all, but the guy says the taste is stronger than the scent. Did not buy.

[Robert Lauriston]

Tuber aestivum can be good but I wouldn't pay that much.

[fallinghawks]

Draeger's in San Mateo used to carry them. I haven't been there for a while, so phone them up first.

[Kirk_T]

Far West Funghi has tuber melanosporum black truffles for $92/oz. Each displayed ones is in $40s and $50s range. They also have Oregon truffles, which are $25/oz. The Oregon white truffles had a very gasy smell.

[Robert Lauriston]

Thanks for the tip, I got a melanosporum. Best quality I've ever encountered, just in perfect shape.

[Dustin_E]

pasta shop in berkeley has them (or so says their sign out front.)
cheese plus in sf has them (or so says their sign out front.)
mushroom store in ferry building in sf has white truffles, at least.

[Robert Lauriston]

Far West Fungi sells a variety of truffles when they can get them. Last week they posted on their Twitter feed that they got a pound of "black truffles," but did not specify which variety. Sometimes they have Oregon truffles (Tuber gibbosum, Tuber oregonense, Leucangium carthusianum), which to me are a couple of big steps down even from Burgundy truffles. They reminded me of the ones the guy I went truffle hunting with in Piemonte let his dog eat.

Most of the black truffles I've found around here in recent years were Tuber aestivum (Italian black summer truffles), which are a somewhat passable substitute for Perigord truffles but not worth anywhere near the same price.

An even more uninteresting truffle to avoid overpaying for is Tuber himalayensis, imported from China. Smell nasty, no flavor.

[techindahaus]

I believe they are the same company as the one in Rockridge. If Im not mistaken all the truffles get ordered through their Oakland store.

[Robert Lauriston]

The Pasta Shop on Fourth St. and the one in Rockridge Market Hall are the same company. The cheese shop in the market hall is part of the Pasta Shop.

[techindahaus]

Good advice. I spoke to Juliana in the pasta/cheese department at Rockridge mall and she is ordering one oz of the black burgandy truffle for me. Price quoted was $85/oz. She was very knowledgeable as well. Gave some good advice on storage and "truffling" procedures.

Phone: [phone]

Store Hours:
Mon - Fri 9am - 8pm
Saturday 9am - 7pm
Sunday 10am - 6pm

We accept Visa, Mastercard, American Express and Debit.

[Robert Lauriston]

The Perigord black winter truffles called for in most recipes are Tuber melanosporum.

Burgundy truffles are Tuber uncinatum. They're interesting and good but I would not pay $85 an ounce. urbani.com has them for $135 / 4 oz. Like white truffles (Tuber magnatum Pico) they should not be cooked, so they would not be an appropriate substitute for melanosporum in most recipes.

[techindahaus]

Urbani wanted something like $150 in shipping. That left me looking local..

[Robert Lauriston]

I just checked urbani.com and 4 oz. of Burgundy truffles is $135 including free overnight shipping.

What are you planning to do with it, anyway?

[techindahaus]

Odd, I did the estimator and it said $125. I must have selected an incorrect country or something. In any case, Im planning on making a risotto out of it.

[Robert Lauriston]

Does the recipe specifically call for Burgundy truffles? They're ruined by cooking. They should be shaved over the top of something hot, a la Alba white truffles.

[techindahaus]

It doesn't, and truthfully I've never seen a recipe that did but it will depend on the fragrance of the truffle.

[Robert Lauriston]

Despite being called "black," Burgundy truffles (Tuber uncinatum) are similar to white truffles (Tuber magnatum Pico). Both have little flavor and are all about the aroma, which is destroyed by cooking. Burgundy truffles are much less intense, they have a unique aroma reminiscent of nuts and jicama.

If your recipe calls for cooking black truffles, it's meant for Perigord truffles (Tuber melanosporum), which are best cooked to bring out their earthy, mushroomy flavor. Summer black truffles (Tuber aestivum) respond similarly to cooking though they're weaker and simpler in flavor.

[Robert Lauriston]

The Pasta Shop has had them occasionally. Past topics on the subject:

http://www.chow.com/search?query=blac...

[mochimunchie]

Market Hall in Rockridge.

[techindahaus]

Perfect! Did you happen to notice the prices? Which stall?

[mochimunchie]

I've purchased them in the past from the cheese shop. here is a link to sign up for the newsletter where they will let you know when a shipment comes in, prices, etc
http://rockridgemarkethall.com/pasta-...

[Robert Lauriston]

That site appears to have been hacked (" Each year the viagra buy germany haunting flavors of the Tuber melanosporum (black truffle) ..."), I wouldn't fill out any forms there until they clean it up.

[mochimunchie]

oh, sorry! thanks for the heads up.