Porcini secchi (dried porcini mushrooms)
Seriously top quality dried porcini mushrooms from Oliveri, the award winning small producer from the home of porcini in the town of Acqui de Terme, in Piedmont. These 'selezione' quality mushrooms are wonderful as the key ingredient of a wild mushroom risotto, with pasta, or in sauces (we're thinking red wine and porcini mushroom sauce over a great steak...).
Just soak a small quantity of the mushrooms in warm water for about 30 minutes, and they're ready to use. A little goes a long way. Be sure not to waste the 'stock' that is the end result, but add it to your sauce or to your own stock for risotto.
