Truffle : When autumn rolls around and November settles in, it is truffle time in Carpentras, at the foot of MontVentoux, and in the Papal Enclave. Truffles, or “rabasse”, as they are called in Provençal, thrive from November to mid-March. The truffle comes to life at the base of a tree, most often a green oak, olive, or hazelnut tree, and grows underground. When the truffle is ripe, it releases a smell that is unmistakably recognized by flies, trained dogs, or trained pigs, who show the way. Then, all you have to do is crouch down, and with your spade, gently scrape away the soil...lo and behold, the truffle. From November to March, the rabasse is practically worshipped. It is starred in events devoted exclusively to the truffle. A ceremonial Mass celebrates it, and truffle markets attract chefs from far and wide. Its exquisite, incomparable fragrance has bewitched many a mere mortal, and though the price per kilo is high, a small bit of pungent truffle goes a long way. A few hundred grams of truffles can transform a simple salad into a divine experience. Don’t hesitate!

THE TRUFFLES MARKETS IN vaucluse