DAVID RUGGIERO'S BEET RISOTTO

Steps:

• In a small saucepan, simmer the beets in water to cover until tender (about an hour). Set them aside and reserve the cooking liquid. When the beets are cool, peel them, dice them and set them aside. Soften the saffron in the chicken stock.
• Heat three tablespoons of the butter in a heavy skillet and cook the onion until it is soft. Add the rice and stir for about 30 seconds, or until the grains become opaque. Add the white wine and when it has been absorbed, add a small amount of chicken stock, stirring constantly. Add the beet cooking liquid a little at a time. When this has been absorbed by the rice, continue adding small quantities of chicken stock and stirring, until the rice is al dente -- in other words, with a slight bite to it.
• Add the diced beets and stir them in. Add an ounce of the truffle oil and the Parmesan cheese and continue stirring. Add the remaining butter and the chives and stir in the remaining ounce of truffle oil along with sea salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste. Pass the extra cheese separately.