Where to buy Truffle oil?

All - -

I remember a thread last year talking about how Trader Joe's at one point had truffle oil on its shelves. Anyone seen it there this year?

If not there, where would be some other places that might stock it? Fox and Obel?

Best,
J.R.

Fox and Obel definitely carries it.

I believe I've also seen it on the shelves at Bari, on West Grand near Ogden.

I think I've even seen truffle oil at Dominicks now. Although, it may be truffle "flavored" oil. But I think you'd be able to find it at most "gourmet" stores these days. Fox & Obel definitely carries it.

aschie30 wrote:Fox and Obel definitely carries it.

I believe I've also seen it on the shelves at Bari, on West Grand near Ogden.

Its behind the cashier at Bari. I saw it today when I was paying for my sub!

I think ive seen Truffle oil at Whole Foods.

polster wrote:I think ive seen Truffle oil at Whole Foods.

The stuff at Whole Foods is TERRIBLE. OK, I'm basing that on the Whole Foods in DC, but I'm assuming WF isn't buying truffle oil from too many distributors. It was rancid as can be.

Fox and Obel is where I'd start.

Here are two interesting articles about truffle oil:

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/16/dining/16truf.html

http://www.guidelive.com/sharedcontent/ ... fb280.html

I went to Fox and Obel yesterday to get some truffle oil for risotto and they were out. All they had was porcini oil. I picked some up at Sam's Wine and Spirits off North Avenue by the Best Buy. I was actually quite impressed with their gourmet food selection which had a myriad of vinegars, oils, cheese, fresh pastries, etc. I know Sur La Table on Chestnut has truffle oil too if you are closer to downtown. Also, the truffle oil at Whole Foods is actually pretty decent too.

Spice House is another option. They carry white and black truffle oil and always have samplers on shelves.

I just picked up a bottle at Oil and Vinegar. They have a store in Old Orchard Mall and one downtown on State (I think?). There are 2 kinds: white truffle and black truffle...

kanin wrote:Spice House is another option. They carry white and black truffle oil and always have samplers on shelves.

There's also an oil and vinegar store about two storefronts up from Spice House on Wells, towards North. I haven't been in there, but I imagine they would have truffle oil.

You might want to reconsider truffle oil. Most of it is fake

http://www.guidelive.com/sharedcontent/ ... fb280.html

MikeLM wrote:You might want to reconsider truffle oil. Most of it is fake

http://www.guidelive.com/sharedcontent/ ... fb280.html

I bought a bottle several months ago, smelled it, and have been afraid to use even a drop of it in anything for fear that it will overpower and ruin the dish. So it sits, still unused.

MikeLM wrote:You might want to reconsider truffle oil. Most of it is fake

http://www.guidelive.com/sharedcontent/ ... fb280.html

This was posted above.

Personally, I don't care that much that it is fake - Sure, I don't love chemicals in my food but using 2 drops on a plate of risotto isn't going to do any major damage. In my opinion, if you love it, enjoy it.

To quote that NY Times article:
"What will happen when there is a synthetic heirloom tomato scent or an imitation ripe peach flavor? Are we moving toward an era of fake food?"

Isn't this what a foam is? Or a gelee? Or an infusion? They might be made with the "true" ingredient but in the end you're experiencing the essence of something - just like truffle oil.

That being said, I've added a few drops to olive oil and popped popcorn in it - delicious!

messycook wrote:...That being said, I've added a few drops to olive oil and popped popcorn in it - delicious!

Thanks for the idea! I can try my first truffle oil on something that won't ruin a meal if I don't like it.

I like Truffle salt better than Truffle oil


does not go rancid

messycook wrote:Isn't this what a foam is? Or a gelee? Or an infusion? They might be made with the "true" ingredient but in the end you're experiencing the essence of something - just like truffle oil.

The distinction here is that the flavoring in truffle oil is one of the dozens/hundreds of aromas that make up the scent of true truffles. A gelee/foam/infusion had the entire original ingredient at one point, and would, one hopes, have absorbed more than one chemical aroma.

In this regard, truffle oil is very much like imitation vanilla.

Yes most truffle oils are fake, and yes it's very powerful...but it's delicious and goes with most everything. Try it in small quantities and enjoy.

Maybe start with fresh popcorn with some finely shredded parmesan and truffle oil tossed in. Mmmm...It's guaranteed to be delicious.

New York Magazine just ran a few pieces that relate to this topic.

One article was on the subject of "truffle sharing":

http://nymag.com/restaurants/features/40616/

and another on where to buy or mail-order truffles:

http://nymag.com/restaurants/features/40618/

I have read some good things about truffle salt. Anybody know if it has ever had any contact with real truffles?

Any sources? Whole Foods doesn't seem to have it.

Added- googled it and the producers claim to have added truffle bits toSicilian sea salt and sure enough, the pictures have black specks throughout the salt. Sabetino asks $19 for 3.5 ounces.

Ant thoughts on whether black or white truffles are preferable? They offer both kinds in their salt.

The truffle salt depicted above is 5% ground black summer truffle, 95% salt.

UMMM... let's see:

5% of 3.5 ounces is .175 ounce. That's 1/91 of a pound. Take off a buck for the sea salt and the truffle is $18.

That comes to $1,645 per pound for the truffles, which I'm sure are peels and scraps anyway.

I'm in the wrong business.

I suggest you get a nice autumn black truffle and make batches to give out as christmas presents The price would probably work out to less than half per ounce.

I, of course, would never expect you to also give me one as thanks for this wonderful idea. Never ever.

Who you

MikeLM wrote:Who you

You you! Go make me some truffle salt! Chop chop!

If your looking to get that truffle flavor, depth and aroma...I'd give some of the truffle cheese a try. You can buy it cut to order. So you don't have to buy a large amount to get the flavor/aroma. Truffle butter could be useful too.

dan

Dan-

I of course will not pay attention to Ed's attempted extortion, but where could you find truffeled cheese?

I have a call into the local FBI office about Ed. Actually, I have an inside track, as a neighbor in Clarendon Hills for 30 years is an FBI Agent who specializes in terrorosn. Wwe're coming for you!

Or something.

gonefishin wrote:If your looking to get that truffle flavor, depth and aroma...I'd give some of the truffle cheese a try. You can buy it cut to order. So you don't have to buy a large amount to get the flavor/aroma. Truffle butter could be useful too.

dan

mmm..."truffle cheeze"

and which truffled cheese might you be suggesting?

afterall you could theoretically truffle virtually any cheese and not every cheese is suitable to every purpose...hmmm

Trader Joe's has a very nice Italian Truffle Cheese. It sells for $9.99 a pound and we made grilled cheese sandwiches with it the other day. It's a fairly mild white cheese with bits of black truffle throughout.

Sharona