Truffle Hunt

In the heart of the Luberon, Kita, an excellent Corsican shepherd trained in truffle hunting, steals between the trees, snout on the ground. The dog takes less than 5 minutes to dig under a holm oak, scratching the ground to mark the right spot. Thanks to her keen sense of smell, she finds the truffles that have reached maturity only by the smell they give off, in the midst of the countless scents of the forest. She is immediately stopped by
, her master, who digs in turn. He digs out a bumpy, black truffle weighing almost 250 grams. He carefully fills in the hole because in two years' time, new truffles will grow in the same place.

"A wealth of pleasure

Robert Florent, farmer and truffle grower, picked his first truffle at the age of 5 with his grandfather. Today, he hunts for truffles in the Vaucluse mountains, with his son and a few guests from the Bastide de Marie. To find out all about this mushroom so coveted by gourmets, Maisons et Hôtels Sibuet offer to share the "Truffle of pleasure" experience, alongside this experienced truffle grower who can talk for ever on the subject. A walk of almost 2 hours in a small group through the forest, accessible to all, to learn everything about truffles.

In Provence, truffles have been hunted for over a century. A real treasure with powerful aromas that the truffle dogs unearth at the foot of the oak trees, ranging from a few grams to a kilo. It is a mushroom that needs 7 to 8 months of heat and humidity to grow. This year the truffles arrived a little early. The most sought-after are the Tuber Melanosporum, the winter variety that grows from October to March. It is considered the best truffle in France.

Exceptional food

The way in which truffles are prepared has evolved in recent years. Chefs compete with each other in their imagination to enhance the value of this exceptional product. Before cooking it, it is important to know its variety because not all are cooked in the same way. Tuber Melanosporum cannot be cooked, it can only be heated. It is ideal in salads, scrambles, grated into pasta, and with poultry. To discover the subtle and refined alliances, the food and wine pairings, the chef François Martin opens the doors of the Bastide de Marie restaurant for a truffle cooking workshop at the end of the day. Truffle lovers should not miss the Truffle Fair in Ménerbes on the last Sunday of the year. Ménerbes is not only one of the most beautiful villages in France but also an ambassador of truffles. Two good reasons to take a break in Provence.

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