WorldWild Podcast
Episode 30 16th December 2019
Truffle Hunting with Melissa Waddingham
Truffles hold a special place in the heart of the forager. If you have ever taken in the quite unique aroma you will know why. We welcome Melissa Waddingham, top truffle hunter, with her truffle-hunting dogs, on to the podcast to talk about the treasures from underground. We go into depth on what makes truffles so special, the myths and fallacies of truffle hunting and different ways of cooking with them.
Whether you are versed in truffle-war stories - poisonings, muggings, smuggling - or have experienced the delight of truffle oil sprinkled on a pizza or you just think truffles are some high-end food with quasi-folkloric status, there is something for everyone when we go truffle hunting...
‘Since kids we've looked for treasure, and that replicates itself when you're looking for truffle’
- Melissa Waddingham, episode 30
About Melissa Waddingham
Further reading
Melissa Waddingham is a truffle hunter and wild mushroom picker. She not only teaches humans to forage for tasty treats but also runs truffle hound training days for man’s best friend too. Since her early days foraging for chanterelles with her grandfather in the Champagne region of France a compulsion to search for treasures has been ever-present. With her years studying forestry and woodland management, Melissa’s appreciation for the complexity of living systems has only grown. Based in Sussex and Portugal depending on the season she can be found with her dogs on the hunt for that earthy scented treasure.
About the show
We offer a series of conversations to tap into the wildness within ourselves and to uncover what is possible when we do. It is our hope that through the WorldWild Podcast we can contribute to the revitalisation of wild food culture and conversation around the world.
Through people who know their landscapes intimately, we gather the threads to weave a rich tapestry. Piece by piece the vision of a wilder world comes into view. The wild embrace of nature welcomes us back and offers us a seat at the table. A feast, no less!