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Rare and elegant, a shaving of fresh truffles instantly elevates and enhances a dish. But what are these foreign fungi, and why is such an odd-looking ingredient so darn sexy and sought after? These dense and knobby masses may not look like much, but their scarcity, aroma, and flavor have made them symbols of refined taste and elegance. Like mushrooms, truffles are the fruiting bodies of a fungus. Unlike mushrooms, truffles remain hidden underground and are often gathered with the aid of trained dogs or pigs that can detect truffles’ distinctive aroma. While the most renowned varieties come from France and Italy, truffles grow and are harvested in different parts of the world—from Australia and New Zealand to Argentina/Chile, North America, and Asia.