Truffle Report #2 – Italy 2009 at Oliveto Community

Truffle Report #2 – Italy 2009

November 4th, 2009 by Bob Klein

It’s still ten days or so before I move from the “just looking” phase into truffle acquisition, but here’s what we know so far: the truffles this year are very good, but not plentiful. Despite fewer truffles, prices are dramatically lower than they have been in recent years due to less demand and also many truffles coming from outside Italy. This is not a new phenomenon, over 12 years ago the joke going around ended with, “those are Alba…anian truffles.”

We had a good soaking recently and more rain coming. All good news.

Today is a travel day for me. I’m currently on a train to Naples, and will take a ferry to Catania later tonight where I’ll be visiting Biondi, a winery on Mount Etna. They have a wonderful day planned for me & I’ll be taking some video as well.

Bob
Sent from my iPhone

Tags: alba, biondi, catania, truffles.

1 Response to “Truffle Report #2 – Italy 2009”

Gretchen Grant

Bob – I am enjoying these truffle and olive oil submissions very much. Sounds like you are having a wonderful time. Wanted to tell you that we were caught on the bridge the night the wire snapped as we going to the theater. Finally made it back to our side of the bay via 3 bridges 3 3/4 hours later. Arrived at Oliveto to find the kitchen closed. I’m afraid I nearly cried, but your lovely, warm restaurant fed us anyway – we said we would eat ANYTHING, but we were allowed to order from the menu. A bad night was saved. Thank you to all of you.

Comment on Nov 6th, 2009 at 6:16 pm

Welcome to our community journal, a journal of stories and movies about food, farms, and cooking.

COMMUNITY MAPS

Map of Farms & Ranches
JOURNAL CONTENTS
- MySQL server version: 4.0.27-max-log collapsCat options: Array ( [title] => JOURNAL CONTENTS [showPostCount] => [inExclude] => exclude [inExcludeCats] => [showPosts] => [showPages] => [linkToCat] => [olderThan] => 0 [excludeAll] => 0 [catSortOrder] => ASC [catSort] => catName [postSortOrder] => ASC [postSort] => postTitle [expand] => 0 [defaultExpand] => [debug] => 1 [postTitleLength] => 0 [animate] => 1 [catfeed] => none [catTag] => cat [postDateAppend] => after [postDateFormat] => m/d [showPostDate] => [useCookies] => 1 [postsBeforeCats] => [showTopLevel] => 1 [customExpand] => [customCollapse] => [number] => 3 [includeCatArray] => Array ( ) ) postsToExclude: Array ( ) CATEGORY QUERY: SELECT t.*, tt.* FROM wp_terms AS t INNER JOIN wp_term_taxonomy AS tt ON t.term_id = tt.term_id WHERE tt.taxonomy IN ('category') AND t.slug!='blogroll' ORDER BY t.name ASC CATEGORY QUERY RESULTS Array ( [0] => stdClass Object ( [term_id] => 447 [name] => -Cafe [slug] => cafe [term_group] => 0 [term_order] => 0 [term_taxonomy_id] => 472 [taxonomy] => category [description] => [parent] => 0 [count] => 3 ) [1] => stdClass Object ( [term_id] => 125 [name] => -From the Field [slug] => from_the_field [term_group] => 0 [term_order] => 5 [term_taxonomy_id] => 128 [taxonomy] => category [description] => [parent] => 0 [count] => 22 ) [2] => stdClass Object ( [term_id] => 126 [name] => -From the Kitchen [slug] => from_the_kitchen [term_group] => 0 [term_order] => 6 [term_taxonomy_id] => 129 [taxonomy] => category [description] => [parent] => 0 [count] => 4 ) [3] => stdClass Object ( [term_id] => 124 [name] => -Movies [slug] => movies [term_group] => 0 [term_order] => 4 [term_taxonomy_id] => 127 [taxonomy] => category [description] => [parent] => 0 [count] => 56 ) [4] => stdClass Object ( [term_id] => 456 [name] => -Olivetians [slug] => olivetians [term_group] => 0 [term_order] => 0 [term_taxonomy_id] => 482 [taxonomy] => category [description] => [parent] => 0 [count] => 1 ) [5] => stdClass Object ( [term_id] => 475 [name] => -The Oliveto Wheat Project [slug] => the_oliveto_wheat_project [term_group] => 0 [term_order] => 0 [term_taxonomy_id] => 501 [taxonomy] => category [description] => [parent] => 0 [count] => 4 ) [6] => stdClass Object ( [term_id] => 204 [name] => -This Just In [slug] => this_just_in [term_group] => 0 [term_order] => 7 [term_taxonomy_id] => 212 [taxonomy] => category [description] => [parent] => 0 [count] => 25 ) [7] => stdClass Object ( [term_id] => 114 [name] => -Tomato Watch 2009 [slug] => tomato-watch [term_group] => 0 [term_order] => 4 [term_taxonomy_id] => 116 [taxonomy] => category [description] => [parent] => 52 [count] => 16 ) [8] => stdClass Object ( [term_id] => 468 [name] => -Whole Beef [slug] => whole_beef [term_group] => 0 [term_order] => 0 [term_taxonomy_id] => 494 [taxonomy] => category [description] => [parent] => 0 [count] => 6 ) [9] => stdClass Object ( [term_id] => 333 [name] => 2009 Tomato Dinners Menu [slug] => menu-for-tomato-dinners-2009 [term_group] => 0 [term_order] => 0 [term_taxonomy_id] => 348 [taxonomy] => category [description] => [parent] => 52 [count] => 1 ) [10] => stdClass Object ( [term_id] => 42 [name] => Acme Bread [slug] => acme-bread [term_group] => 0 [term_order] => 0 [term_taxonomy_id] => 43 [taxonomy] => category [description] => [parent] => 41 [count] => 1 ) [11] => stdClass Object ( [term_id] => 43 [name] => Acquerello Rice [slug] => acquerello-rice [term_group] => 0 [term_order] => 1 [term_taxonomy_id] => 44 [taxonomy] => category [description] => [parent] => 41 [count] => 1 ) [12] => stdClass Object ( [term_id] => 419 [name] => Agricola Farm [slug] => agricola_farm [term_group] => 0 [term_order] => 0 [term_taxonomy_id] => 441 [taxonomy] => category [description] => [parent] => 5 [count] => 1 ) [13] => stdClass Object ( [term_id] => 104 [name] => Animalitos Farm [slug] => animalitos-farm [term_group] => 0 [term_order] => 0 [term_taxonomy_id] => 105 [taxonomy] => category [description] => [parent] => 4 [count] => 1 ) [14] => stdClass Object ( [term_id] => 431 [name] => Balsamic Dinners [slug] => balsamic_dinners [term_group] => 0 [term_order] => 0 [term_taxonomy_id] => 453 [taxonomy] => category [description] => [parent] => 3 [count] => 1 ) [15] => stdClass Object ( [term_id] => 45 [name] => Bellwether Farms [slug] => bellwether-farms [term_group] => 0 [term_order] => 0 [term_taxonomy_id] => 46 [taxonomy] => category [description] => [parent] => 4 [count] => 1 ) [16] => stdClass Object ( [term_id] => 284 [name] => Bill Fujimoto [slug] => bill-fujimoto-suppliers [term_group] => 0 [term_order] => 8 [term_taxonomy_id] => 295 [taxonomy] => category [description] => [parent] => 41 [count] => 6 ) [17] => stdClass Object ( [term_id] => 222 [name] => Blossom Bluff Orchards [slug] => blossom-bluff-orchards [term_group] => 0 [term_order] => 0 [term_taxonomy_id] => 231 [taxonomy] => category [description] => [parent] => 4 [count] => 1 ) [18] => stdClass Object ( [term_id] => 334 [name] => Bob's Dispatches from Italy 2009 [slug] => bobs_dispatches_from_italy_2009 [term_group] => 0 [term_order] => 0 [term_taxonomy_id] => 349 [taxonomy] => category [description] => [parent] => 11 [count] => 6 ) [19] => stdClass Object ( [term_id] => 17 [name] => Brookside Farm [slug] => brookside-farm [term_group] => 0 [term_order] => 0 [term_taxonomy_id] => 17 [taxonomy] => category [description] => [parent] => 4 [count] => 13 ) [20] => stdClass Object ( [term_id] => 7 [name] => Canales [slug] => canales [term_group] => 0 [term_order] => 0 [term_taxonomy_id] => 7 [taxonomy] => category [description] => [parent] => 6 [count] => 15 ) [21] => stdClass Object ( [term_id] => 24 [name] => Catalan Farms [slug] => catalan-farms [term_group] => 0 [term_order] => 0 [term_taxonomy_id] => 25 [taxonomy] => category [description] => [parent] => 4 [count] => 6 ) [22] => stdClass Object ( [term_id] => 26 [name] => Churchill Orchard [slug] => churchill-orchard [term_group] => 0 [term_order] => 0 [term_taxonomy_id] => 27 [taxonomy] => category [description] => [parent] => 4 [count] => 2 ) [23] => stdClass Object ( [term_id] => 102 [name] => County Line Harvest [slug] => county-line-harvest [term_group] => 0 [term_order] => 0 [term_taxonomy_id] => 103 [taxonomy] => category [description] => [parent] => 4 [count] => 1 ) [24] => stdClass Object ( [term_id] => 91 [name] => Dickson Napa Ranch [slug] => dickson-napa-ranch [term_group] => 0 [term_order] => 0 [term_taxonomy_id] => 92 [taxonomy] => category [description] => [parent] => 4 [count] => 1 ) [25] => stdClass Object ( [term_id] => 27 [name] => Dirty Girl Produce [slug] => dirty-girl-produce [term_group] => 0 [term_order] => 0 [term_taxonomy_id] => 28 [taxonomy] => category [description] => [parent] => 4 [count] => 7 ) [26] => stdClass Object ( [term_id] => 3 [name] => Events [slug] => events [term_group] => 0 [term_order] => 0 [term_taxonomy_id] => 3 [taxonomy] => category [description] => [parent] => 0 [count] => 30 ) [27] => stdClass Object ( [term_id] => 4 [name] => Farmers [slug] => farmers [term_group] => 0 [term_order] => 8 [term_taxonomy_id] => 4 [taxonomy] => category [description] => [parent] => 0 [count] => 41 ) [28] => stdClass Object ( [term_id] => 249 [name] => Fisheries Forum 2009 [slug] => fisheries-forum-2009 [term_group] => 0 [term_order] => 11 [term_taxonomy_id] => 259 [taxonomy] => category [description] => [parent] => 3 [count] => 2 ) [29] => stdClass Object ( [term_id] => 255 [name] => Fisheries Forum Films [slug] => fisheries-forum-films [term_group] => 0 [term_order] => 0 [term_taxonomy_id] => 266 [taxonomy] => category [description] => [parent] => 249 [count] => 1 ) [30] => stdClass Object ( [term_id] => 254 [name] => Fisheries Forum Links [slug] => fisheries-forum-links [term_group] => 0 [term_order] => 0 [term_taxonomy_id] => 265 [taxonomy] => category [description] => [parent] => 249 [count] => 1 ) [31] => stdClass Object ( [term_id] => 46 [name] => Fresca Italia [slug] => fresca-italia [term_group] => 0 [term_order] => 2 [term_taxonomy_id] => 47 [taxonomy] => category [description] => [parent] => 41 [count] => 1 ) [32] => stdClass Object ( [term_id] => 16 [name] => Full Belly Farm [slug] => full-belly-farm [term_group] => 0 [term_order] => 0 [term_taxonomy_id] => 16 [taxonomy] => category [description] => [parent] => 4 [count] => 12 ) [33] => stdClass Object ( [term_id] => 47 [name] => Giusto's Vita-Grain [slug] => giustos-vita-grain [term_group] => 0 [term_order] => 3 [term_taxonomy_id] => 48 [taxonomy] => category [description] => [parent] => 41 [count] => 1 ) [34] => stdClass Object ( [term_id] => 28 [name] => Guru Ram Das Orchards [slug] => guru-ram-das-orchards [term_group] => 0 [term_order] => 0 [term_taxonomy_id] => 29 [taxonomy] => category [description] => [parent] => 4 [count] => 2 ) [35] => stdClass Object ( [term_id] => 292 [name] => Hangar One [slug] => hangar-one-suppliers [term_group] => 0 [term_order] => 9 [term_taxonomy_id] => 305 [taxonomy] => category [description] => [parent] => 41 [count] => 1 ) [36] => stdClass Object ( [term_id] => 288 [name] => Jenny Raven [slug] => jenny-raven [term_group] => 0 [term_order] => 0 [term_taxonomy_id] => 300 [taxonomy] => category [description] => [parent] => 6 [count] => 6 ) [37] => stdClass Object ( [term_id] => 35 [name] => Jones Rabbit Farm [slug] => jones-rabbit-farm [term_group] => 0 [term_order] => 0 [term_taxonomy_id] => 36 [taxonomy] => category [description] => [parent] => 5 [count] => 2 ) [38] => stdClass Object ( [term_id] => 23 [name] => Laguna Farm [slug] => laguna-farm [term_group] => 0 [term_order] => 0 [term_taxonomy_id] => 24 [taxonomy] => category [description] => [parent] => 4 [count] => 1 ) [39] => stdClass Object ( [term_id] => 29 [name] => Lucero Organic Farm [slug] => lucero-farm [term_group] => 0 [term_order] => 0 [term_taxonomy_id] => 30 [taxonomy] => category [description] => [parent] => 4 [count] => 10 ) [40] => stdClass Object ( [term_id] => 36 [name] => Magruder Ranch [slug] => magruder-ranch [term_group] => 0 [term_order] => 0 [term_taxonomy_id] => 37 [taxonomy] => category [description] => [parent] => 5 [count] => 8 ) [41] => stdClass Object ( [term_id] => 401 [name] => Market Report [slug] => market_report [term_group] => 0 [term_order] => 1 [term_taxonomy_id] => 423 [taxonomy] => category [description] => [parent] => 0 [count] => 10 ) [42] => stdClass Object ( [term_id] => 12 [name] => Martin Bournhonesque [slug] => martin-bournhonesque [term_group] => 0 [term_order] => 0 [term_taxonomy_id] => 12 [taxonomy] => category [description] => [parent] => 4 [count] => 2 ) [43] => stdClass Object ( [term_id] => 30 [name] => McEvoy Olive Oil [slug] => mcevoy-olive-oil [term_group] => 0 [term_order] => 0 [term_taxonomy_id] => 31 [taxonomy] => category [description] => [parent] => 4 [count] => 1 ) [44] => stdClass Object ( [term_id] => 49 [name] => Monterey Fish Company [slug] => monterey-fish-company-suppliers [term_group] => 0 [term_order] => 5 [term_taxonomy_id] => 50 [taxonomy] => category [description] => [parent] => 41 [count] => 5 ) [45] => stdClass Object ( [term_id] => 50 [name] => Monterey Market [slug] => monterey-market [term_group] => 0 [term_order] => 6 [term_taxonomy_id] => 51 [taxonomy] => category [description] => [parent] => 41 [count] => 6 ) [46] => stdClass Object ( [term_id] => 48 [name] => Mr. Espresso [slug] => mr-espresso [term_group] => 0 [term_order] => 4 [term_taxonomy_id] => 49 [taxonomy] => category [description] => [parent] => 41 [count] => 2 ) [47] => stdClass Object ( [term_id] => 37 [name] => Napa Valley Lamb [slug] => napa-valley-lamb [term_group] => 0 [term_order] => 0 [term_taxonomy_id] => 38 [taxonomy] => category [description] => [parent] => 5 [count] => 4 ) [48] => stdClass Object ( [term_id] => 38 [name] => New Life Farm [slug] => new-life-farm [term_group] => 0 [term_order] => 0 [term_taxonomy_id] => 39 [taxonomy] => category [description] => [parent] => 5 [count] => 1 ) [49] => stdClass Object ( [term_id] => 9 [name] => New Oil [slug] => new-oil [term_group] => 0 [term_order] => 0 [term_taxonomy_id] => 9 [taxonomy] => category [description] => [parent] => 3 [count] => 0 ) [50] => stdClass Object ( [term_id] => 361 [name] => New Year's Eve [slug] => new-years-eve [term_group] => 0 [term_order] => 0 [term_taxonomy_id] => 378 [taxonomy] => category [description] => [parent] => 3 [count] => 1 ) [51] => stdClass Object ( [term_id] => 51 [name] => Oceanic Dinners [slug] => oceanic-dinners [term_group] => 0 [term_order] => 0 [term_taxonomy_id] => 52 [taxonomy] => category [description] => [parent] => 3 [count] => 6 ) [52] => stdClass Object ( [term_id] => 168 [name] => Paine Farm Pigeon [slug] => paine-farm-pigeon [term_group] => 0 [term_order] => 0 [term_taxonomy_id] => 173 [taxonomy] => category [description] => [parent] => 5 [count] => 2 ) [53] => stdClass Object ( [term_id] => 317 [name] => Polenta Dinners [slug] => polenta_dinners [term_group] => 0 [term_order] => 0 [term_taxonomy_id] => 331 [taxonomy] => category [description] => [parent] => 3 [count] => 1 ) [54] => stdClass Object ( [term_id] => 368 [name] => Press [slug] => press-restaurant [term_group] => 0 [term_order] => 0 [term_taxonomy_id] => 389 [taxonomy] => category [description] => [parent] => 6 [count] => 1 ) [55] => stdClass Object ( [term_id] => 5 [name] => Ranchers [slug] => ranchers [term_group] => 0 [term_order] => 9 [term_taxonomy_id] => 5 [taxonomy] => category [description] => [parent] => 0 [count] => 16 ) [56] => stdClass Object ( [term_id] => 6 [name] => Restaurant [slug] => restaurant [term_group] => 0 [term_order] => 10 [term_taxonomy_id] => 6 [taxonomy] => category [description] => [parent] => 0 [count] => 10 ) [57] => stdClass Object ( [term_id] => 31 [name] => Riverdog Farm [slug] => riverdog-farm [term_group] => 0 [term_order] => 0 [term_taxonomy_id] => 32 [taxonomy] => category [description] => [parent] => 4 [count] => 15 ) [58] => stdClass Object ( [term_id] => 32 [name] => Round Pond Olive Oil [slug] => round-pond-olive-oil [term_group] => 0 [term_order] => 0 [term_taxonomy_id] => 33 [taxonomy] => category [description] => [parent] => 4 [count] => 1 ) [59] => stdClass Object ( [term_id] => 40 [name] => Sonoma County Poultry Liberty Ducks [slug] => sonoma-county-poultry-liberty-ducks [term_group] => 0 [term_order] => 0 [term_taxonomy_id] => 41 [taxonomy] => category [description] => [parent] => 5 [count] => 1 ) [60] => stdClass Object ( [term_id] => 492 [name] => Spring 2010 [slug] => spring_2010 [term_group] => 0 [term_order] => 0 [term_taxonomy_id] => 518 [taxonomy] => category [description] => [parent] => 401 [count] => 8 ) [61] => stdClass Object ( [term_id] => 33 [name] => Star Route Farms [slug] => star-route-farms [term_group] => 0 [term_order] => 0 [term_taxonomy_id] => 34 [taxonomy] => category [description] => [parent] => 4 [count] => 2 ) [62] => stdClass Object ( [term_id] => 493 [name] => Summer 2010 [slug] => summer_2010 [term_group] => 0 [term_order] => 0 [term_taxonomy_id] => 519 [taxonomy] => category [description] => [parent] => 401 [count] => 2 ) [63] => stdClass Object ( [term_id] => 41 [name] => Suppliers [slug] => suppliers [term_group] => 0 [term_order] => 3 [term_taxonomy_id] => 42 [taxonomy] => category [description] => [parent] => 0 [count] => 17 ) [64] => stdClass Object ( [term_id] => 425 [name] => Tairwa'-Knoll Farms [slug] => tairwa_knoll_farms [term_group] => 0 [term_order] => 0 [term_taxonomy_id] => 447 [taxonomy] => category [description] => [parent] => 4 [count] => 1 ) [65] => stdClass Object ( [term_id] => 34 [name] => Terra Firma Farm [slug] => terra-firma-farm [term_group] => 0 [term_order] => 0 [term_taxonomy_id] => 35 [taxonomy] => category [description] => [parent] => 4 [count] => 4 ) [66] => stdClass Object ( [term_id] => 106 [name] => Terra Sonoma Dist. [slug] => terra-sonoma-distribution [term_group] => 0 [term_order] => 7 [term_taxonomy_id] => 107 [taxonomy] => category [description] => [parent] => 41 [count] => 1 ) [67] => stdClass Object ( [term_id] => 52 [name] => Tomato Dinners [slug] => tomato-dinners [term_group] => 0 [term_order] => 0 [term_taxonomy_id] => 53 [taxonomy] => category [description] => [parent] => 3 [count] => 3 ) [68] => stdClass Object ( [term_id] => 11 [name] => Truffle Dinners [slug] => truffle-dinners [term_group] => 0 [term_order] => 0 [term_taxonomy_id] => 11 [taxonomy] => category [description] => [parent] => 3 [count] => 1 ) [69] => stdClass Object ( [term_id] => 335 [name] => Truffles in the News [slug] => truffles-in-the-news [term_group] => 0 [term_order] => 0 [term_taxonomy_id] => 350 [taxonomy] => category [description] => [parent] => 11 [count] => 1 ) [70] => stdClass Object ( [term_id] => 1 [name] => Uncategorized [slug] => uncategorized [term_group] => 0 [term_order] => 11 [term_taxonomy_id] => 1 [taxonomy] => category [description] => [parent] => 0 [count] => 0 ) [71] => stdClass Object ( [term_id] => 92 [name] => updates [slug] => updates [term_group] => 0 [term_order] => 2 [term_taxonomy_id] => 93 [taxonomy] => category [description] => [parent] => 0 [count] => 0 ) [72] => stdClass Object ( [term_id] => 8 [name] => Whole Hog Dinners [slug] => whole-hog-dinners [term_group] => 0 [term_order] => 0 [term_taxonomy_id] => 8 [taxonomy] => category [description] => [parent] => 3 [count] => 4 ) [73] => stdClass Object ( [term_id] => 39 [name] => Willis Farm [slug] => willis-farm [term_group] => 0 [term_order] => 0 [term_taxonomy_id] => 40 [taxonomy] => category [description] => [parent] => 5 [count] => 3 ) [74] => stdClass Object ( [term_id] => 77 [name] => Wine [slug] => wine-events [term_group] => 0 [term_order] => 0 [term_taxonomy_id] => 78 [taxonomy] => category [description] => [parent] => 3 [count] => 10 ) ) POST QUERY: POST QUERY RESULTS
- -Cafe
- -From the Field
- -From the Kitchen
- -Movies
- -Olivetians
- -The Oliveto Wheat Project
- -This Just In
- -Whole Beef
- ▼Events
  - Balsamic Dinners
  - ▶Fisheries Forum 2009
    - Fisheries Forum Films
    - Fisheries Forum Links
  - New Year's Eve
  - Oceanic Dinners
  - Polenta Dinners
  - ▶Tomato Dinners
    - -Tomato Watch 2009
    - 2009 Tomato Dinners Menu
  - ▼Truffle Dinners
    - Bob's Dispatches from Italy 2009
    - Truffles in the News
  - Whole Hog Dinners
  - Wine
- ▶Farmers
- ▶Market Report
  - Spring 2010
  - Summer 2010
- ▶Ranchers
- ▶Restaurant
- ▶Suppliers
ARCHIVES
- July 2010
- June 2010
- May 2010
- April 2010
- March 2010
- February 2010
- January 2010
- December 2009
- November 2009
- October 2009
- September 2009
- August 2009
- July 2009
- June 2009
- May 2009
- April 2009
- March 2009
- February 2009
- January 2009
- July 2007