Q: For a friend's upcoming birthday I bought her a bottle of white truffle oil, something she's been dying to try but hesitant to splurge on. I'd like to get her some ingredients to go with the oil. How do you guys recommend showcasing truffle oil, especially for a truffle oil virgin?
Sent by Sarah
Editor: Sarah, a few ideas: Good popcorn, like an heirloom variety from Rancho Gordo, some white beans for making truffled bean spread, a bunch of asparagus to make truffled asparagus, and perhaps a little sack of good potatoes.
Readers, what else would you suggest?
Related: Good Question: How to Use Truffle Oil
(Image: Williams-Sonoma)
How To Make Perfect Bacon in the Oven
How To Cook Tender, Chewy Wheat Berries on the Stovetop
Good Food to Share 
The Big Book of Small, Cool Spaces 
Apartment Therapy Presents 
The Eight-Step Home Cure 
Straw Mat from The ...
Find Your Style: 20 Classic to Contemporary Kitchens to Add to Your Inspiration Board
Beth's Romantic & Retro Residence
Best way to eat truffle oil is with some good bread and a little salt- like dipping oil. yum!
Margherita pizza with a drizzle of it on top. AMAZING!!!
Bread, drizzled on fries or on popcorn. You dont want anything that is going to take away from the taste of the oil.
I recently had an amazing spring salad of thinly shaved fennel, raw asparagus, and celery, and maybe some spring greens (but I can't remember), drizzled with white truffle oil - delicious!!
It is particularly good with parsnips. Lately I've been making parsnip puree and drizzling in a little bit of truffle oil, some fresh parmesan, and salt and pepper. It is delicious! (The same goes for cauliflower!)
You should read this article from the NY Times about truffle oil:
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/16/dining/16truf.html?pagewanted=all
Make a risotto "kit"- SOO good, just the truffle oil and some complimentary mushrooms. I make pizza dough with my truffle oil and it's to die for.
Drizzle on Mac N' Cheese, especially one made with white cheddar.
Or drizzle on a baked potato and sprinkled with some Maldon salt.
Or drizzle on ribeye steak
Drizzled on noodles with a nice shaving of parmesan cheese. That is a favorite after-school snack that my kids and I share. Or on scrambled eggs!
I love it drizzles on french fries with a bit of parm. I imagine it would be just as good on other root veggies, and not necessarily fried... Popcorn for sure. Maybe with a cauliflower puree. I've been dying to buy some of that stuff to try at home too.
I love truffle oil dizzled on almost anything, carbs in particular. I've also had it on scallops and it really added depth to their flavor.
all of them?
I love it drizzled on a simple salad like this bresaola, parmesan and argula salad or anything involving mushrooms like this mushroom lasagna.
@Fardaesm: Thanks, that's very interesting. I've always wondered why the oil has a strong chemical taste/aroma. Truffle shavings are great on gnocchi and risotto.
Go authentic - gnocchi - home made of course, a wild mushroom risotto, ravioli anything pasta even with button mushrooms, you could add a drizzle to your mushroom sauce for steak, or with a good bread as part of an antipasto. Can't imagine it on popcorn though?
I like to make myself a fancy "for one" meal of spaghetti with sauteed mushrooms, a poached egg on top with parm and a drizzle of truffle oil. I found the recipe on some traditional Italian website. It's pretty delicious.