FOOD WITH MIGUEL MAESTRE TRUFFLED TOASTIE Chris, Miguel and their Motorhome are crossing the Bass Strait, from Melbourne to Devonport on board the Spirit of Tasmania as part of their Bromad tour of Australia. After disembarking Chris takes Miguel to a place where he ll need to use his nose or that of some four legged friends to locate his next ingredient to cook with a Tassie delicacy, the Truffle. With Truffle in hand the boys then head to the spectacular Bay of Fires where Miguel cooks Chris the ultimate ham, cheese and truffle toastie.
ABOUT TASMANIAN TRUFFLES The Terry family can almost be considered truffle royalty in Australia. Having pioneered growing techniques suited to Tasmania s cool climate, Tim Terry had the great honour of growing the first ever black truffle in Australia. Producing world-class truffles since 1996, Tasmanian Truffles set the benchmark for fine fungi in the southern hemisphere. Truffle devotees from a young age, siblings Henry and Anna, have taken over the family business and launched a gourmet truffle range. Hand crafted from truffles at the peak of the season, their products include truffle infused honey, mustard, butter, crème, salt, olive oil and balsamic vinegar. Available on line and from the weekly Salamanca Markets in Hobart, Tasmanian Truffles are a must try for the truffle enthusiast. Tasmanian Truffles 844 Mole Creek Rd Deloraine, Tasmania 7304 mob: 0437 636 361 e: info@tastruffles.com.au
TRUFFLE FACTS: Considered the diamond of the culinary world, truffles are prized around the globe for their incredible aroma and taste. Truffles are a type of fungi that grow just below the ground in the roots system of particular tress, most commonly oak, hazelnut and poplar trees. Truffle farmers traditionally used pigs to sniff out the truffles as they reached maturity but often times the pigs would eat the truffles. These days dogs are being employed to find the truffles as their sense of smell is just as keen but they don t have an appetite for the prized fungi. Australia has hundreds of native truffle species but they are mostly tasteless so farmers produce European black truffles in Australian soil. Winter is the ideal time for harvesting the highest grade of truffle. Most commonly available, the black truffle can sell for anywhere between $3000-$4000 a kilo in Australia. The highly prized white truffle, which only grows in Italy, can sell for as much as $10,000 a kilo. The most expensive truffle ever sold was in 2007. A Casino tycoon in Hong Kong paid $330,000 for a 1.51 kg white Tuscan truffle.
TRUFFLED TOASTIE Prep time: 15 minutes Cooking time: 10 minutes Serves: 2 Ingredients 2 tsp plain flour 2 tsp unsalted butter, plus extra to butter brioche 250 ml milk 150 g gruyere cheese 4 thick slices brioche 120 g sliced smoked ham 1 ½ tbsp truffle mustard or dijon mustard (as an alternative) truffle salt to taste fresh truffle, shaved, to serve (optional) Method 1. Grate 50 of the gruyere cheese and slice the remainder. Set side. 2. Melt the butter in a small saucepan over medium heat. Add the flour and cook, stirring, for 2 minutes. Slowly add the milk, stirring constantly, until the mixture is smooth. Bring to a simmer and cook for 3 minutes. Add the grated cheese and season with truffle salt. Keep warm until ready to serve. 3. Butter each slice of brioche with mustard. Divide the ham and sliced cheese between two slices of brioche and top with the other two slices, pushing down gently to close. 4. Melt 2 teaspoons of butter in large frying pan over medium- high heat. Add the sandwiches and cook for about 2 minutes until golden. Add the remaining 2 teaspoons of butter to the frying pan, flip the sandwiches over and cook until golden. Remove from the heat. 5. To serve, reheat the béchamel until bubbling. Spread half the béchamel over each sandwich and shave truffle (if using) over the top. Serve immediately.
WEBLINKS For further information on Tasmanian Truffles, Big 4 Holiday Parks or Apollo motor homes take a look at the following websites: https://www.tastruffles.com.au/ For accommodation information head to http://www.big4.com.au/caravan-parks/tas/st-helens-northeast/st-helens-holiday-park For motorhome hire information head to http://www.apollocamper.com