HAMMIN' IT UP WITH BLOG HOG HAMILTON

If you think hogs are hard-working slobs, too, you would be right!  You could say we really bust our chops and bring home the bacon...or should I say truffles?  Truffles are a fungus that are found underground near the base of trees in the forests in Europe (mostly France and Italy) and North America (Oregon and Washington).  Pigs are trained to hunt truffles by walking on a leash through these forests with their keeper.  Pigs are well suited to this task because they have a natural ability for rooting in the earth for food and are able to identify truffles from as low as three feet underground with their good sense of smell!

The use of pigs to hunt truffles is said to date back to the Roman Empire (noble creatures that we are), but the first well-documented use is in the 15th century.  Today, it is common for dogs to be used to hunt truffles (known as truffle hounds), because hogs have been known to eat too many truffles in the field (not so well documented, I say!)  It is frequent for the truffle hog to be a devoted family pet of the truffler. 

This 1.6-lb. white truffle sold for $150,000 in 2009

Truffles are considered a culinary delicacy.  Because they're difficult to find, they are expensive, selling for $250-500 a pound.  The most popular types are Italian white and French black.  The white ones are only available a couple months of the year, almost exclusively from one part of Italy, and can cost as much as $2,000 a pound.  Because of their high price and pungent odor, only a small shaving is used in recipes.

Don't confuse fungus truffles with candy truffles.  Candy truffles are a delicious chocolate treat.  I wonder if Cochran and Christie know how to make these?  Bet you they would use "dark" chocolate in their recipe!

NOW THAT'S YUMMY!

THAT'S FUNNY

THAT'S NOT SO FUNNY

Stay "tooned" for a Tiny Toons Adventure called Job OpporTOONities, featuring Hampton in Working Pig.  Bet you'll be snorting with laughter!