Dear Art lover,
Motovun is the small
town on top of a hill in northwestern Istria in Croatia where Boris took me on
our day trip last Friday. It is a cute
little stone town. There were actually a
few people we saw about. I was surprised at how deserted were all of the towns we visited that day. Motovun had some construction workers ripping
up one of the narrow streets to work on the pipes below ground, but other than
that, very few signs of working life.
On the drive back to
Umag, Boris explained to me that Motovun is Istria’s truffle capitol. And then he explained that they use dogs to
sniff out the truffles. He said that it
was a bit horrible because they raise the dogs by giving them only small
amounts of truffle from birth to train their noses and appetites. Then when they are starving, they send them
out into the woods to find the delicacy.
I had always assumed
that truffles were found by [knowledgeable and licensed] people in the woods in
Italy, as mushrooms are. It had never
occurred to me that they were hunted with the use of dogs! But then, I did not really know that truffles
were underground and people could not find them without aid. And, I wondered how a dog could live on
slivers of truffle alone and also if it was really worth it to feed animals
this relatively expensive stuff. I mean, did they
find more than their body weight’s needs?
Are truffles even nutritious enough to sustain a life?
I am glad that I asked
my friend Judy Witts Francini. She knows
everything about food, certainly Italian food.
And even if I am exaggerating in my praise, she certainly knows how to
find out about something if she does not know it.
Judy rightly surmised that English is not Boris’s first language.
As such, her theory is that Boris used the
word “starving” when he meant “hungry.”
She
then explained that, in Italy at least, “When the dogs are born, the owners put
truffle oil on the mother's nipples so when the puppies feed they relate eating
to truffles.
When they get bigger the
people put a little truffle in a small ball and throw it and have the dog find
it or put small bits in food to reward the dogs.”
“So early in the morning, before the dogs have eaten anything ["starving?"], they go
hunting.
When they find a truffle they
are given snacks.”
THIS makes more sense.
Plus,
I had asked Boris what the dogs ate when truffles were not in season and
he replied, “regular food.”
No doubt I
was “lost in translation.”
Always good
to give the benefit of a doubt (sometimes even with speakers of our own native
tongues).
Here is a post that Judy created on truffles.
She shares images of truffles and a truffle
dog!
http://www.divinacucina.com/2005/10/truffles-not-chocolate/
Judy offers cooking classes, recipes, and shopping experiences.
She knows all the best in the food business
in Italy and she knows how to give you a great experience.
I know because I was lucky enough to join one
of her market tours in Florence.
And
here is a taste (pardon the pun) of her 2015 culinary events:
http://www.divinacucina.com/2014/11/sharing-the-love-plans-for-2015/
Now, back to me.
Hahahaha… Yesterday
I added two new rewards on my first Kickstarter art project.
I want to entice you to help me create some
bronze art.
Please participate and share
this link:
Thank you so much,
Kelly
~ Kelly Borsheim, sculptor, painter,
writer, teacher
 |
| Boris did not know the original use of this site; now important for bonfire during local festival |
I cannot thank you enough for participating in any way. You may even help by spreading the word (with
the link for easy access). Word of mouth
with a personal note is the best way to connect, as you know. So, here it is and thanks for checking it
out. I will be adding a few new rewards
in the coming days. I really want these
wax sculptures cast.
