A truffle is seen on a table in Alba, north-western Italy November 11, 2013. Located in the heart of the Langhe – the hilly southern area of Italy's northwestern Piedmont region – Alba is the country's capital of white truffles, a variety of the prized fungus which grows underground. Truffles are found two to eight inches (5-20cm) below the ground near the roots of trees. They give off an odour which lasts for a limited period of time and can be detected with the assistance of well-trained dogs and experienced hunters. Output of white truffles, which are not cultivated and only grow naturally in forests, has fallen in Italy over the past few years, largely because climate change has brought a damaging mix of drought and torrential rains. (Photo by Stefano Rellandini/Reuters)

Truffle hunter Ezio Costa, 66, searches for truffles with his dog Jolly in the woods in Monchiero near Alba, northwestern Italy November 9, 2013. Costa's family have been truffle hunters for four generation. (Photo by Stefano Rellandini/Reuters)

Truffle hunter Ezio Costa, 66, search for truffles with his dog Jolly in a wood in Monchiero near Alba northwestern Italy November 9, 2013. (Photo by Stefano Rellandini/Reuters)

Truffle hunter Ezio Costa, 66, searches for truffles with his dog Jolly in the woods in Monchiero near Alba northwestern Italy November 9, 2013. (Photo by Stefano Rellandini/Reuters)

Truffle hunter Ezio Costa, 66, picks up a truffle that was found by his dog Jolly in the woods in Monchiero near Alba northwestern Italy November 9, 2013. (Photo by Stefano Rellandini/Reuters)

Truffle hunter Ezio Costa, 66, inspects a truffle that was found by his dog Jolly in the woods in Monchiero near Alba northwestern Italy November 9, 2013. (Photo by Stefano Rellandini/Reuters)

Truffle hunter Ezio Costa, 66, inspects a truffle as he sits outside his restaurant in Monchiero near Alba northwestern Italy, November 9, 2013. (Photo by Stefano Rellandini/Reuters)

Truffle hunter Ezio Costa, 66, smells a truffle at his restaurant in Monchiero near Alba north-western Italy, November 9, 2013. (Photo by Stefano Rellandini/Reuters)

Photographers take pictures of two truffles weighing 950 grams (2.09 pounds) during the World Alba White Truffle Auction in Grinzane Cavour near Alba, in north-western Italy November 10, 2013. The two biggest truffles at the auction sold for 90,000 euros (about $120,000) to a buyer from Hong Kong. (Photo by Stefano Rellandini/Reuters)

A seller shows a truffle to consumers at the truffle market in Alba, north-western Italy November 9, 2013. (Photo by Stefano Rellandini/Reuters)

A slice of white truffle is seen in this illustration photograph taken in Rome November 19, 2013. (Photo by Stefano Rellandini/Reuters)

Alessandro Boglione, chef at the Grinzane Cavour castle restaurant, cooks pasta after the World Alba WhiteTruffles Auction in Grinzane Cavour near Alba, in north-western Italy November 10, 2013. The two biggest truffles at the auction sold for 90,000 euros (about $120,000) to a buyer from Hong Kong. (Photo by Stefano Rellandini/Reuters)

Cardoon with white truffle and pear is seen at the Guido restaurant in Serralunga d'Alba, in north-western Italy November 11, 2013. (Photo by Stefano Rellandini/Reuters)