When Tom Gives You Truffles…/by Martha Francis, Pasta Maker Extraordinaire
…..make truffle butter!
Since all the delivery people know they can find me at my pasta station in Palace Kitchen, I sign for a lot of boxes…. a lot of boxes for Tom. Some from publishers, some that say “perishable” …some that say booze, but that’s a story for another day…
A few weeks ago, I signed for a perishable box and stuck it in the cooler until someone came looking for it as I knew they would, eventually. So later, Tom comes down and opens the box, pulls out a brown paper bag and starts telling everyone to stick their noses in and inhale. Normally in a kitchen one refuses to oblige when someone asks you to smell anything- usually the request is followed by: “Does it seem off?” But again, another story, another day.
This day, we were rewarded by the most luscious musky, floral bouquet. It made your knees weak and your mouth water. Turns out Tom had won a golf tourney and was treating the losers to dinner. (I’d say in this case, it paid to lose.) Sure Tom, you need some noodles to go with these, no problem. To think the noodles I made are going to be sharing a plate with fungal gold- white fungal gold. It’s an honor.
So a few days ago, Tom comes up to my work table with a little sandwich bag and tells me to sniff again. Yay, I think, I get to smell that divine aroma one more time. Heaven knows I’ll never have the money to buy them, after all. Then he hands the bag to me and tells me to take some noodles home and enjoy. I picked my jaw up off the floor, and stuttered out a thanks. Then I saw there were TWO little nodules of goodness. I was overwhelmed by the weight of my wealth and though to share it… But with whom? Someone who knows them and loves them? Or someone like me who has never had them before? I know! Mom’s coming for Christmas!… Oh they need to be used now before they turn to mush… There must be a way to preserve some… maybe if I soak them in olive oil…. I could flavor salt… Wait! Of course!
Truffle butter! I now have a half pound of truffliscioiusness sitting in my freezer awaiting the holidays. THANKS, TOM!!!!
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