Searching for Black Diamonds

Delicious smoked ham from the Purbeck Parlour, plump Dorset blueberries grown by Trehane family….  Provisio always search for the best local produce and insist on knowing where the ingredients for their bespoke menus come from.  But, now their search for all things best and local is going one step further as they hunt for truffles or black diamonds, as they are affectionately called, in Dorset ….and they are taking their working Labrador on a special truffle training course to help in their quest.

Lisa Osman, the founder and principal at Provisio explains, “We have a strong desire to know exactly where our food comes from, how it was grown and produced.  It is only then that we can choose the best ingredients for our recipes and menus and delight our clients.  Truffles are a delicious delicacy. And training Charlie our dog to help in the search is a fantastic and fun way to obtain these wonderful treasures from our friends land.”

Traditionally pigs were used to harvest truffles but their propensity to eat their find has encouraged trainers to find an alternative harvester and dogs have been the perfect choice.

France and Italy are generally regarded as the place to source truffles but here in Britain, truffles are usually found on chalk ground where oak, hazel or beech woodland is growing.  Lisa says, “We would like to explore these areas in Dorset to find a good local source of truffles.  Of course, that is where Charlie comes in.  We will both be spending time under the guidance of expert and enthusiast, Marion Dean, to learn how to harvest the truffles with care to avoid damage to the fungi, their mycorrhizal growth and the trees supporting them”.

She continued, “once Charlie and I have learnt the art of ‘Black diamond’ hunting I will retreat to the kitchen to conduct recipe experiments to exact the perfect flavour sensation for our menus.”

Britain is home to a number of species particularly the British summer truffle, however, the whereabouts of these expensive and sought after delicacies remain a closely guarded secret.

Notes

Lisa and her team at Provisio provide hospitality and styling for private and corporate events, weddings and parties.  She also conducts cookery demonstrations and classes for private groups on request.