truffle recipes by ralph hutchings

black diamonds

cooking with the melanosporum truffle
cooking with the melanosporum truffle

the author

Ralph Hutchings in his kitchen

THE AUTHOR - Ralph Hutchings, photographer and art director to many michelin star chefs and editor of cook books has learned the art of cooking and plating side by side some of the greatest chefs in europe. He has become over the years an experimented chef in his own right.

WHY TRUFFLES ? - Also editor of cultural books, it was in the making a of a publication on local professionals that Ralph met Michel Santinelli, President of the regional federation of truffle producers in the region of Sud Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur, and there was born his fascination for this gem of the gastronomic world. Ralph has accompanied Michel to hunt for Truffles both in the wild on the mountainsides between France and Italy and on the plantations on the foothills of the french rivera, where you will find some of the world’s finest truffles.

FIRST RECIPES - Ralph began creating truffle recipes, passionate about both design and ‘cuisine’ he began to experiement with truffles, their use in cooking and the visual aspect of the dishes. His truffle evenings organized in the winter season soon became a ritual for friends and clients.

CONCLUSION - Having produced a great number of recipes for his gastronomic evenings, Ralph finally decided to produce a book that reunited all the recipes produced for his truffle meals entitled Black Diamonds (available on Amazon - signed coffee table book series available direct ralphhutchings@ymail.com). He continues to enlighten the palates of his friends with new original dishes every truffle season.

the author's editions

excerpts from Ralph’s cookbook editions

Ralph has been publishing books on culture and gastronomy for over 20 years. Many in his status as a cultural jounalist. He has also been producing projects over these same years with major luxury hotel and restaurant groups which has led him to work alongside many talented chefs, some of which have become close friends. This proximity with the gastronomic world pushed him into experimenting with cooking and producing several books based around his own recipes and those of famous chefs. 
For more details on these books, take a look at the boutique.

the source

Michel Santinelli truffle hunting with his dogs

AN ENCOUNTER - In his role as cultural journalist, Ralph produced books and guides on topics of local culture (French Riviera). Ralph had chosen as one of his subjects Michel Santinelli (President of the regional federation of truffle producers in Sud Provence-Alpes Côte d’Azur) to illustrate the richness of local gastronomic culture (truffles from this region being reputed among the best in the world). This encounter would be the start of a very enriching relationship. Michel began to intoduce Ralph to the world of this ‘Black Diamond’ of the gastronomic landscape and passed on his passion for its culture and gastronomic qualities. Ralph has accompanied Michel on truffle ‘hunts’ in the wild and in Michel’s own plantations.

LOCATION - Michel Santinelli hunts truffles with his trained truffle dogs in the wild and on his own ‘homemade’ plantations. In the wild, truffles can be found on the mountain sides between France and Italy. Once the truffle hunters have found their hunting grounds (where they can find ample quantities of truffles), these places become a very closely guarded secret. But to adhere to the demands of his favourite chefs, Michel has also developed truffle plantations over the foothills of the Riviera between Nice and Grasse. His expertise in choosing location and soil, as well as controlling irrigation and fertilisation is the key to producing a successful and qualitative plantation.

MAN’S BEST FRIEND - Of course, one of the main assets of a truffle hunter is...his dog. To mention a few: Bella, Maia, Indie. An important part of a truffle hunter's expertise is to train his dogs. Firstly to choose the best adapted breed and then to teach them how to hunt. Discipline and mutual respect is of greatest importance.

the truffle

The hillsides of the french riviera, ideal land for truffles

THE MELANOSPORUM BLACK TRUFFLE - Among the many varieties of black truffles available across the world, the most sought after is the MELANOSPORUM, the queen of all truffles, with which no other truffle can compete. Only the white truffle of Alba can be considered to have such culinary qualities. Its main characteristics are its outer crust covered in little diamond shaped cones and its dark flesh against white veins.

The truffle is a fungus that grows around the roots of a tree, mostly on the roots of the evergreen Oak, either in the wild (here that will be on the mountain sides between France and Italy) or from plantations of the evergreen Oak.

I fortunately live on the French Riviera, a region that through its climate and its soil produces some of the finest and most reputed Melanosporum truffles in the world.

Unlike the white truffle of Alba, whose season is the beginning of Autumn, the Melanosporum appears from mid December to mid February, but are at their finest from mid January to mid February. The flesh is darker and the perfume is more powerful. The truffle itself is best uncooked. It is in this state that it gives all its flavour and its delicate crisp nutty texture. However grated truffle will enrich and perfume your sauces, perfume your pastry, pasta or potatoe puree. Left in the fridge it will leave its perfume in just about everything in the fridge, so make sure its well sealed unless you want to eat everything with a hint of truffle!. Even if one should generally use a fresh truffle within a week to 10 days, I personaly have used them up till 3 - 4 weeks later, and they were still fine and tasty. Obviously it will lose some perfume as time goes by and it does depend on the conditions in your fridge. They should be kept in a paper bag and wrapped with kitchen paper. I personaly don’t put them in a sealed container, so they can breath.

Storing unused truffles for later in the year is possible, I suggest putting into a vaccuum sealed plastic bag before it goes into the freezer. This stops the truffles getting too gorged with water. The truffles when defrosted lose their texture and their appearance (white veins), so they can’t be used in the same way. I keep some by for a few meals in Summer, when I have friends that are not local. They still keep a part of their charm.

starters

land and sea tartare of sea bass, scallops, gamberoni, lard from Colonnata and grated truffle.

flame roasted leek with aniseed blossom and spicy truffle chutney

yellow and white beetroot flower artichoke purée, truffle petals. cream of artichoke sauce.

tartare of limousin beef fillet, red tuna and Colonnata lard with grated truffle and black garlic.

raw bluefin tuna steak rolled in black garlic and truffle. squid ink sauce.

cauliflower mushroom with game sauce and grated truffle

beef bone marrow, truffle cream sauce and grated truffle

scrambled eggs with truffle and poutine

oeuf parfait with forest mushrooms, grated truffle, mixed mushrooms and truffle cream

Cepes tart, sliced truffle, cepes and thyme, ice cream and white asparagus.

butter roasted chinese cabbage, sliced truffle

pan fried scallop, diced leek, potato and truffle and fish ecume.

raw egg, asparagus and baby courgette soup, blanched vegetables, patta negra ham, grated truffle

scottish scampi with hollandaise sauce, sea beans, salmon roe, caviar lemon, caviar and grated truffle.

morels with truffle, morel, cepes and duck paté stuffing, blanched kale and duck consommé

Tartar of bethlehem asparagus with whole truffle and caviar

cream of asparagus with pea sprouts and truffle.

baby onion consommé with truffle and Colonnata lard on toast.

braised leeks with scallops and truffle

cepes, truffle and brown mushroom soup, grated truffle

cepes, truffle and brown mushroom soup, sliced truffle

potato purée, osso bucco sauce, grated truffle

Deer and truffle croqueta with Colonnata lard and king oyster mushrooms. Aged sheep's cheese with truffle.

yellow zucchini soup and truffle toast

Prince of Brittany artichoke with artichoke cream and grated truffle dips

raw scallops with truffle aioli on black toast, red chicory, black radish, mustard leaves and sliced truffle.

black squid burger of limousin fillet of beef with red salad, black garlic and truffle

pane, pumata è prisuttu. fresh tomato toast with thick cut corsican cured ham, sheep’s cheese, oyster mushrooms and truffle.

green vegetable purée with truffle and green salad

sea cicada with truffle toast

pasta dishes

cèpes, morel and truffle gnocchi

einkorn tagliatelli, king oyster mushrooms, sliced truffle, cepes and game sauce, parmesan

homemade truffle pappardelle with cèpes and morel sauce sheep’s cheese and truffle

tomato and spinach spaghetti with morels, truffle and black garlic pesto

gnocchi with scallops, chanterelle mushrooms parmesan and truffle

trilogy of asparagus. asparagus gnocchi, asparagus sauce, blanched giant asparagus and wild garlic leaves

wild garlic spätzel with sliced truffle, aspargus pesto, blanched asparagus and pumpkin seeds

artichoke ravioli with braised artickoke leaves and truffle sauce

spaghetti of radicchio de treviso with pancetta, prosecco, sheep's cheese and grated truffle

stewed pheasant spaghetti with rosemary blossom

pigeon and foie gras agnolotti, grated truffle, pigeon stock and red mustard salad

trofie with squid and truffle, truffle tapenade

Wild goose consommé with truffle lasagna

main courses

turbot with black squid mash shimeji mushrooms and Jerusalem artichoke. sliced truffle.

poire of Aberdeen Angus rump steak on seared foie gras, blanched zuchinni and asparagus, balsamic and truffle sauce

sea and land. tagliatelle of squid and lardo di Colonnata with scampi, truffle soldiers and crispy green veg.

plaice on shortbread and marine mash with white asparagus and artichoke tart grated and punched truffle.

deep fried octopus in pivot seeds, squid ink and sliced truffle.

Duo of beef fillet. Pan fried beef fillet with beef fillet and truffle croquetas. Crispy deep fried sage. Game and beef sauce

Royal Anjou pigeon breast wrapped in truffle. Crispy deep fried pigeon thighs. Ceps and fowl sauce. Puff pastry.

wild hare with ceps. ceps, morel and game sauce. grated truffle.

beef osso bucco, parmesan gnocchi, grated truffle

deer ravioli with homemade truffle pasta dough, beef and game sauce and olives from Nice. sliced truffle.

fillet of milk veal with butter bean and Jerusalem artichoke broth. sliced truffle.

milk veal fillet with homemade truffle gnocchi, mini mozzarella, red salad leaves, king oyster mushrooms, sliced truffle and beef and game broth.

stewed pheasant spaghetti with grated truffle and rosemary blossom

‘poire’ of angus beef with cep and morel sauce, sliced truffle and baby asparagus. truffle tapenade and foie gras toasties

quail breasts on toast, game sauce, sliced truffle, martini braised endives

stewed deer and truffle pie with chanterelle mushrooms, baby onions and garlic. sliced truffle.

croqueta of milk pig, truffle and girolle mushroom centre, girolles and orange sauce

potatoes stuffed with beef fillet and truffle. baby white onions. beef sauce.

desserts

chocolate mousse with black cherries and chocolate and truffle chips

chocolate orange bomb on brownie

homemade chocolate truffles with oreo ice cream

chocolate cake with chocolate and truffle flakes, roasted hazelnuts and chocolate fudge brownie ice cream.

homemade chocolate and truffle macaroons. Haagen dazs brownie ice cream and crumble

chocolate tart of cocoa bean and pear chip chocolate, grated green tea chocolate, caramelized pear and pear sorbet.

chocolate mousse with chocolate and truffle chips crumble and caramel

millefeuille of chocolate mousse, mascarpone and crumble grated truffle and mikado sticks.

coconut cream on crumble mixed chocolate and truffle flakes and vanilla.

American cheesecake topped with truffle, yogurt ice cream

iced pistachio mousse on oreo and truffle crumble, grated truffle

truffle experience

Villa Bianca’s exotic flora

TAKE A TRUFFLE BREAK ON THE FRENCH RIVIERA. The french riviera is the perfect place to get the truffle experience. The winter climate of the meditteranean and the soil composition are propice to producing some of the world's finest truffles. THE VILLA BIANCA. The Villa Bianca is home to Ralph Hutchings and the property has an apartment for holiday rentals. Truffle meals or truffle cooking courses can be arranged on site. The apartment is an excellent venue for visiting the area and restaurants as many chefs prepare specific menus for the truffle season. Visits of the truffle plantations can be arranged as well as the purchase of freshly gathered truffles and truffle hunting with the trained truffle dogs. FROM LATE DECEMBER TO EARLY MARCH. Plan your visit over the three months of the truffle season. A pre-Christmas break, Christmas, for New Year or just an early year vacation. THE VILLA BIANCA APARTMENT is in an exceptional location surrounded by exotic gardens, only minutes away from Monaco, Nice and Cannes and an hour away from the ski slopes of Isola 2000. Visit the villa's website for more information. www.villa-bianca-france.com

ralph's favorites

Making a meal special is a question of having quality products all the way down the line. Here are some of my favourites that’ll make your day.

my wine list

U Picurinu Corsican sheep’s cheese

Corsica Fratelli Corsican cured ham

boutique

Here is a selection of gifts from the chef. More are in the pipeline, so take a look from time to time to find some beautiful and original gifts.

coffee table book black diamonds truffle recipes by Ralph Hutchings

coffee table book 'In The Kitchen with Stars' recipes from world celebrities

coffee table book '12 Gourmet Adventures' recipes and table arts