Serving the aromatic tuber at home has also become simpler, thanks to online distributors. Purveyors such as sabatinostore.com receive daily shipments from Italy and overnight them to you ($145 per ounce, or about two to three servings) along with instructions on how to store and prepare them. Always shave the raw tuber, using a carrot peeler or mandoline, directly onto dishes. (Never cook truffles, as they are volatile and their aromatics break down quickly under heat.) Rich soups like cream of broccoli and pastas dressed with sautéed butter and sage allow the truffle’s flavor to take center stage. Store them for up to four days in the refrigerator wrapped in a paper towel and placed on a plate of uncooked rice, which absorbs moisture. Clean the tuber with a dry soft toothbrush. And here’s the best part: early Greeks and Romans considered the truffle an aphrodisiac. At these prices, it had better be.
