Rooting around in Fallbrook

Last night a bunch of my foodie friends once again got together to make a memorable feast, at the home of Dixon and Connie. It was great to see so many great cooks working together to produce such a meal. Dixon went to San Diego on Saturday to get the drop on the fresh truffles from a swarthy man in a trench coat in a parking lot. Customs had seized all the black truffles from Sabatino in New York, so we had to order another ounce of the pricier white. After he made the score, he drove to Renée's so she could start on her truffle puree for our main course.

Everyone outdid themselves, wine flowed and conversation was as usual, delightful. A few new cast members joined our fray, excellent company and most welcome. Leslie started the evening off with her take on duck confit tacos, delicious with cilantro, la crema and the yummy bits of micro planed truffle to give the dish a special twist.

Renee "O" was up next with her crostini, delectable morsels that were wonderful and gave us a momentary and needed truffle break.

Dixon followed up with his posh poached eggs over polenta cup with truffled hollandaise and shaved truffle to boot, gorgeous, could have been served at 21, as tasty as it was elegant.

In a dinner full of masterpieces, Renée had what was consensually acknowledged as the dish of the night, really the most incredible pork loin you could ever hope to eat. Complicated, but well worth it. She made up a plate to bring her mom.

Kim concocted a three cheese macaroni with truffle, awesome comfort food with a kugel like texture that made me think of grandma.

We finished with Jerri's dessert. It was awesome but the truffle honey was so intense that I had to eat around it. Jerri also brought the nicest bottle of wine of the night, something we had drank drunken drunk at Bella Vista a few weeks ago whose name momentarily is escaping me. (ed. It was a reserve Rosenblum.)

I really have to thank our hosts, and all of this year's participants. If you couldn't make or swing an invite to this one, there will be another, don't fret.