Bring Out the Bling on Valentine’s With These Black Truffle Dinners!
Discover > Best Of Texas > Bring Out the Bling on Valentine’s With These Black Truffle Dinners!
Fellow Texans, 14th February is fast approaching, and whilst it may be full-blown Valentine’s for some (dinner (What wine goes well with dinner?) date, seasonal blooms, champagne, et al), for others it may be a chance to spend the Sunday cozying up at home. Whatever your reason is, it’s the perfect one to enjoy eating nice food and drinking something delectable. And nothing can beat a meal featuring one of the rarest and most pricey foods in the world. The Black Truffle. And no, we are not talking about the fancy chocolate confectionery with the same name also popular during Valentine's Day. Talking about chocolate, here are some of the best Texan chocolatiers to make your V-day even more sweet!
What is a Black Truffle and Why is it So Special?
Savory black truffles (What wine goes well with truffles?) are subterranean fungi that grow near the roots of broadleaved oak or hazelnut trees. Think of them as an underground mushroom, only much rarer to find. Once harvested, they lose their trademark aroma in less than a week. This makes truffles extremely valued in culinary applications. Black Truffles are the milder of the truffle kinds and are also the more frequently eaten species.
What Do Truffles Look Like and How Do They Taste?
Truffles look quite distinct from mushrooms (What wine goes well with mushrooms?). They don't have the mushroom-like stalks or gills. Instead, they're round, firm, covered in warts, and come in many sizes. Some are as small as nuts, while others can be as big as a fist.
Each truffle has its own unique flavor, depending on the external physical environment it grew in, and the bacteria inside it. The flavor of Black truffles is delicate and mild, yet powerful and rich. In general, though, you can expect a strong, earthy taste (and smell) with a hint of bitterness.
Are Truffles Aphrodisiacs?
While there have been no proven studies to determine if truffles actually do elevate your love-game, I say there is no better time to find out than the upcoming V-Day!
Where Can I Find Truffle Based Dishes in Texas?
The Truffles Masters Event produced by Houston’s luxury food importer and distributor, DR Delicacy, is an annual food competition and celebration of one of the world’s oldest and most prized delicacies, the truffles. Showcased by the top talent in Texas' restaurant community, the event brings together the finest restaurants from the Lone Star State to create their best truffle-based menus.
When you dine with them or order from their specially curated truffle menus, a part of the proceeds will go to the Texas Food and Wine Alliance, to support those from the food and beverage industry affected by the COVID-19 situation.
Truffle Masters runs from February 11-28, and it will be an opportunity for you to enjoy and vote for your favorite truffle dishes from the participating restaurants.
So, go on and take your pick from these fabulous eateries for Valentines Day and experience an incredibly special truffle dinner.
Truffle Masters Event Participants
Sources ingredients locally and emphasizes on simplicity.
Truffle Masters Dish: Bruschetta with Prosciutto di Parma, Farm Egg, Black Truffle, and Parmigiano Reggiano.
Offers a total sensory and ingenious dining experience.
Truffle Masters Dish: The Black and White - House-made potato chip, black sausage, potato foam, truffle, and garden flower.
Features some of the best hand pressed tacos!
Truffles Masters Dish: Chicken Honey Truffle Butter Donut - house made yeast donut sliced in half and seared on a hot griddle with chicken honey truffle butter and finished with shaved truffle.
Focusses on modern Italian cuisine and Texan tastes.
Truffle Master Dish: Black Truffle & Yukon Gold Potato Agnolotti, Meyer Lemon, Crispy Garlic & Mushrooms
Visit Karbach Restaurant and Patio to enjoy the best food pairings with top notch beer!
Truffle Masters Dish: Black Truffle & Wild Mushroom Pasta (how long does pasta last?) - Penne tossed in a Brewsanity Belgian Ale cream sauce with wild mushrooms & blistered tomatoes, topped with fresh black truffles, fried sage leaves & fresh parmesan.
Takes the steakhouse experience to the next level. Uses locally sourced ingredients true to Texan roots.
Truffle Masters Dish: Lobster and Truffle Laguna
A kitchen featuring seasonal, local and fresh salads, meats and seafood.
Truffle Master Dish: Seared U10 scallops (What wine goes well with scallops?) with dill (how long does dill last?) risotto, shaved pecorino, and fresh truffles.
The ideal destination for authentic and comforting Vietnamese cuisine.
Truffle Masters Dish: House made brioche toast with grilled spring peas and cucumbers in a black truffle vinaigrette and smoked cream.
Well known for their outstanding flavors inspired by Naples and Milan.
Truffle masters Dish: Cacio e Pepe Risotto, Acquerello Risotto, Fresh Shaved Black Truffles, Four-Month Aged Pecorino Roma
Considered the best place to get a salad, Vinaigrette is an eatery you can appreciate with no feelings of guilt. It’s popular for its salad centric menu.
Truffle Masters Dish: French Frisee - A French bistro staple with frisee greens, two poached eggs, bacon lardons, shaved black truffles, and a warm shallot vinaigrette.
For much details on the competition, and to know more about other participating restaurants, click here.
Looking for the best steakhouse in Texas?
Looking for the best beer gardens in Houston?
Best BBQ to dine in Houston can be found here!
