Celebrity chef Rick Stein warns against using truffle oil

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 13 Nov, 13:02 · Archive

Rick Stein has criticised truffle oil as a manufactured flavour that misleads diners.

Rick Stein, the 79-year-old celebrity chef, has criticised the widespread use of truffle oil in cooking. The ingredient, he says, is not made with truffles at all but is instead a manufactured flavour that deceives diners into believing they are eating something far more special than they actually are.

Stein argued that the ubiquity of truffle oil has damaged the reputation of real truffles. 'When I found that they're putting truffle oil in Marmite and truffle-oil chips, I suddenly realised the idea of truffles – which are exquisite, particularly white truffles, but black truffles as well – is being sort of bastardised,' he said.

Stein built his reputation as one of Britain's best-known chefs and restaurateurs after opening The Seafood Restaurant in Padstow, Cornwall, in 1975. He went on to establish restaurants, shops and hotels across Cornwall and beyond, and became known for his television programmes combining travel with his interest in seafood and regional ingredients.

How it is being reported

• Celebrity chef warns DO NOT use this popular ingredient when cookingCelebrity chef Rick Stein has warned against using a popular ingredient when cooking.Oxfordshire Guardian · 13 Nov, 12:30
• Celebrity chef warns DO NOT use this popular ingredient when cookingCelebrity chef Rick Stein has warned against using a popular ingredient when cooking.Oxford Mail · 13 Nov, 12:30

In this story: Rick Stein · Padstow · Cornwall · Oxfordshire

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