You might think I\u2019m crazy spending $22,000 on a truffle pig.\u00a0 Crazy like fox!\u00a0 Do you know how much truffles cost an ounce?\u00a0 They are not called \u201cblack diamonds\u201d for nothing!\u00a0 Napoleon III had a 150 carat truffle mounted in platinum as a gift for the Empress Eug\u00e9nie!\u00a0 I read about this truffle pig farm located in P\u00e9rigord in a back issue of The<\/i> New Yorker\u2026 <\/i>these pigs have the uncanny ability to shnuffle about in the under brush near oak and hazelnut trees, and dig up with their snout a treasure trove of these \u201cturd\u201d like objects. When a prize winning pig became available, I couldn\u2019t resist! Visions of recipes made me drool!\u00a0 Thoughts of re-sale value of truffles danced like sugar plums in my dreams!\u00a0 Maybe I could even give up my day job?<\/p>\n
Luckily for me Desdemona (although someone suggested the name \u201cPancetta\u201d, I ruled it out because it lacked class) was trained not<\/i> to eat truffles. She is content to eat pastries.\u00a0 She can make a box of linzer tortes<\/i> disappear before your eyes! She also adores raisin scones, cannolis, hamontashen (ironic, no?), baklava and stollen.\u00a0 Her favorite is maple syrup glazed donuts stuffed with bacon (even more<\/i> ironic!). \u00a0\u00a0Desi is also known to knock off a steak and kidney pie and a large Pepe\u2019s white clam pizza.<\/p>\n
I discounted the idea of shlepping around the countryside looking for stands of oak and hazelnut trees.\u00a0 I decided to go right to the source.\u00a0 My contacts informed me that Stew Leonard Jr. just took delivery of mini-van filled with truffles for his extended family\u2019s use.\u00a0 No worries there\u2026 I\u2019m taking Desi over to the Norwalk Stew Leonard\u2019s on Saturday\u2026 I\u2019m just a little worried about getting her past the baked goods department.\u00a0 Once past, we\u2019ll just blend in with the rest of the shoppers, and I\u2019ll let Desi do her thing!\u00a0<\/p>\n
Hah-hoo!\u00a0 I figure once we clean out Stew\u2019s we can head into the City and hit Dean & Deluca!\u00a0 You bet!\u00a0 By Sunday my investment will be covered, and I will begin to harvest<\/i> dividends!<\/p>\n
Still think I\u2019m crazy?\u00a0 And when Desi has outlived her usefulness? Well<\/i>\u2026do I need to draw you a map?<\/i><\/p>\n
You might think I\u2019m crazy spending $22,000 on a truffle pig.\u00a0 Crazy like fox!\u00a0 Do you know how much truffles cost an ounce?\u00a0 They are not called \u201cblack diamonds\u201d for nothing!\u00a0 Napoleon III had a 150 carat truffle mounted in … Continue reading ![\"shmuel\"](\"http:\/\/www.summerofjim.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/03\/shmuel.jpg\")
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