WHERE OLA STOPS, A TRUFFLE IS HIDING: DISCOVERING THE FOREST TREASURE OF KOTOR VAROŠ

In the forests of the Banja Luka region, people do not go only in search of nature. Mladen Kalamanda goes there in search of one of the world’s most prized gastronomic treasures – the truffle, a mushroom hidden beneath the soil that is almost impossible to find without a specially trained dog.

PHOTO: SeeSrpska

His main companion is Ola, a female Lagotto Romagnolo, an Italian breed renowned for its exceptional sense of smell and its ability to locate truffles. Alongside her is Alba, a young dog just beginning to learn the art of truffle hunting.

WHEN A DOG FINDS WHAT THE HUMAN EYE CANNOT

A truffle can grow just a few centimetres beneath the ground, completely hidden from sight. That is why a dog is the most important ally in the search.

“It can happen that you spot a truffle by chance, but you do not know whether it is ripe. When a dog picks up its scent, you know that it is a real, ripe truffle,” Kalamada tells Hedonist Magazine.

Because of the way they grow and are found, truffles have been surrounded by an aura of mystery for centuries. They are rare, difficult to find, and their distinctive aroma and flavour have made them one of the most prized ingredients in world gastronomy.

Mladen most often searches for truffles in the Banja Luka region, although, as he says, they can be found throughout Bosnia and Herzegovina.

“Truffles can be found throughout Bosnia and Herzegovina, with the exception of white truffles, which are somewhat more specific and more difficult to find,” he explains.

FROM THE FOREST TO THE GOURMET TABLE

The journey of a truffle does not end when it is found. From the forest, it makes its way into the kitchen, where it becomes an ingredient in luxurious gastronomic products.

Among the sought-after products are truffle carpaccio, as well as black and white truffle oils. Their intense aroma is enough to give pasta, risotto, meat or another dish an entirely new dimension.

That is precisely the magic of truffles: a small amount can make a remarkable difference.

Behind an elegant bottle of truffle oil or a carefully served truffle carpaccio, however, lies a long journey that begins in the forest and ends at the dining table.

EVERY TRUFFLE IS DIFFERENT

The value and quality of a truffle depend on several factors – its species, maturity, freshness and the location where it was found.

That is why the search is never entirely predictable. There is no guarantee that the day will bring the treasure they set out to find.

There is only experience, knowledge of the terrain, nature and a dog whose nose knows when to stop.

For Mladen, finding a truffle is a reward in itself.

“Of course, there is enormous satisfaction and fulfilment,” says Kalamanda.

KOTOR VAROŠ – WHERE TRUFFLES BECOME A WAY OF LIFE

What began as a hobby has grown into a business and a way of life.

“At the beginning, it was just a hobby for us, but now it has become both an additional occupation and a hobby,” says Mladen.

In Kotor Varoš, at 9 Jugovića Street, he has a business premises where he processes and sells truffle products.

But his story does not end with the products.

Kalamanda is also successfully involved in breeding and training truffle dogs – Lagotto Romagnolos, an Italian breed that has become renowned for its ability to search for truffles.

In Kotor Varoš, two unusual pursuits have thus come together: the search for and processing of truffles, and the breeding and training of dogs that know where this forest treasure is hiding.

THE PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN MAN AND DOG

Truffle hunting is not simply a search for an expensive mushroom. It is a relationship between a person and a dog, built through trust, training and hours spent in nature.

The dog has to learn what is expected of it, while the human has to learn to recognise every movement and reaction.

Ola has a special place in this story.

She is not simply a dog that finds truffles. She is Mladen’s partner in the search, and her name has become part of the identity of the entire story.

Because before a truffle ends up in carpaccio, infused into oil or served on the plate as part of a fine gastronomic experience, it first has to be found.

And the first trace is most often discovered by Ola.

THE FOREST TREASURE OF KOTOR VAROŠ

From soil to table, the truffle follows a journey that brings together nature, knowledge, gastronomy and entrepreneurship.

Mladen is an architect and mechanical engineer by profession, but he has also found part of his professional life in a world that begins where the asphalt and everyday routine end.

In the forest.

With Ola.

In search of truffles.

And so the “forest treasure” takes on a new life – from a hidden truffle beneath the soil to the aroma that fills a kitchen, where just a few delicate slices or drops of truffle oil are enough to create a truly indulgent gastronomic experience.