Scents of fresh milk and black truffles waft from a newly opened wheel of Perlagrigia al Tartufo, and the cheesemongers come running. The silky texture and lush flavors of this ash-covered, semi-soft cheese are quite enticing so we can’t help ourselves! Slices of black truffles are stirred with the warm curds before the curds are poured into molds to form wheels. Then, the wheels are rubbed in truffle oil and coated with ash and dried herbs to preserve that special truffle goodness, as well as the smooth texture. Not too shabby, eh?

Although this is a newer cheese by Italian standards – production only started in the 1990s – it is quickly becoming a classic. The smooth texture is perfect for melting, so add it to mac and cheese or grilled cheese for an extra special twist. Add a few dashes of Truff, our favorite truffle hot sauce, to either dish for a zip and even more truffle flavor! Or skip all the cooking, and just eat pieces of Perlagrigia, hopefully sipping on a glass of cold, spritzy prosecco.