True confession: up until about 6 years ago I gleefully lived my life believing a truffle was a delectable orb of chocolaty goodness surrounding a mystery filling of something gooey and delicious. This type of truffle does exist, but to the foodie and those possibly more sophisticated than I, a truffle is much, much more -- and an edible that evokes some pretty strong reactions.

Considered by some to be an epic fungus of legendary proportions that creates speechless rapture when smelled then devoured…, and by others as a detestable parasite emitting the stench of dirty feet and resembling something one would prefer to avoid stepping in, there is typically no fence-riding when it comes to feelings about this delicacy.