Truffle's 'n garlic
Two delicious foods which came direct from a farmers' field and some dark and danky forest; this garlic and truffle were purchased by the lovely Em at Taste of London. We went to the festival in Regent's Park where we sampled great food from some of the city's top chefs. We stumbled upon Em at the end of the day and he displayed his purchases. He had a very smelly but plump truffle (£10quid) and he bought a ginormous head of garlic, which is probably the largest one can purchase in this metropolis!

There are a few restaurants on my list after visiting the festival, I must re-visit Tom's Kitchen as grumpy Bunky and I only went there for breakfast and I would love to try their lunch and dinner menu. I would also love to go to the Boxwood Cafe as we had the most divine dessert (see below) from that stall. Have you ever had home made marshmallows? They were extraordinary! And Stellina licked the chocolate pot with extreme delight.

There were so many great restaurants selling samples of their specialties, so many places to try; will write up my wish list and try and check them all off before the end of the year!

Truffle hunting on your next vacation?
A travel idea: travel to Italy for a truffle hunt! It may be muddy and dirty but it sounds like fun and you stay with a family or in a small town and eat like a King (or Queen). In the past, truffles were only found by trained pigs but it seems like dogs are now the main way that these precious fungi are found.

They are edible subterranean mushrooms that are hard to find and therefore a much sought after delicacy. Pungent tasting and rich smelling, round and not quite hard - they are brown and wrinkly and plain ugly (see pic above). They are used very sparingly in dishes and am not sure you can really taste them when they are on menus (in truffle oil, truffle infused sauce etc.).

I have been meaning to make a truffle themed dinner for a while and will have to get some fresh truffles from Borough and make it happen, maybe when Momma Dolce is in town.