I've been steadily buying little bottles of truffle oil from Metropolitan Market because I love dousing popcorn, potatoes and even eggs with it. Real truffles are exceedingly rare, expensive and tough to get in places that are far from where they are foraged for. So I thought the small bottles of olive oil, apparently flavored with a tiny slice of pungent black truffle, were an accessible alternative.
But today I learned that it is all a fraud. There is no such thing as real truffle oil. The stuff they sell in the stores (and charge extra for at restaurants) is made in the same factories where they make perfume. If you look closely at the over-priced little bottles of flavored olive oil all you are getting is the petrochemical derived aroma of simulated truffle.
I don't mind that they've come up with a way to simulate what is a rare culinary treat. But it is more than disingenuous to charge outrageous sums for something that is chemically derived and not in the least bit rare.
Truffle oil lovers beware!
westseattleblog
West Seattle Blog
West Seattle Blog
