42108 Sat Dec 17 02:23:00 -0800 2005 2 1 San Francisco Bay Area 0 204042 A couple of years ago, I was seduced by the Sottocenere at Mollie Stone's. The cheese itself was nothing special but, oh, that truffle flavor!!! Sottocenere remained my favorite (despite mercifully brief flirtations with a Cacciota and a Pecorino--both painfully dull and inadequately truffled). That is, until a few months ago when I encountered a Boschetto al Tartufo at Whole Foods, and lost my heart all over again. I introduced the Boschetto to my family, and they told me I need not bother to bring any other cheese home again. Yesterday, I met a serious contender for my affections: a truffled Brillat-Savarin. I had been ready to commit myself to a whole Boschetto (approx.$30, whole), but the sheer unctuousness of Brillat-Savarin enveloping a thin layer of pulverized black truffle gave me pause. I eventually resolved the conflict by buying half a Boschetto for the family, and half a Brillat-Savarin (approx.$42, whole) as a guilty pleasure for myself--and a couple of very special people. For more detailed descriptions, and a longer list of truffled cheeses, see the link to mom!mom!.com below. (Not the likeliest- or edgiest-sounding website, but practical, and pretty thorough re truffled cheese.) By the way, does anyone have suggestions for a wine to go with truffled Brillat-Savarin? N.B., The truffled Brillat-Savarin is available only briefly. In fact, the Cheese Man at the San Mateo Whole Foods told me that they have received their one and only shipment. I think Whole Foods has the widest selection of truffled cheeses, though Draeger's and Mollie's both have Sottocenere. The Pasta Shop in Berkeley has(or had) a truffled Tenerella, which I am hoping to try someday. Link: http://www.mom-mom.com/truffle_cheese.htm Sat Dec 17 02:23:00 -0800 2005 0 Pia 1 204187 Thanks for the heads up, but the Brillat-Savarin is not available at the Whole Foods in Berkeley. If anyone knows where to find it on this side of the Bay, please speak up! Sun Dec 18 15:09:43 -0800 2005 204042 0 Oakland Barb 1 204192 A truffled Brillat is available as a special order by your local cheesemonger through a local food distributor. It usually takes about four weeks from time of order to arival. It's ungodly expensive and doesn't have a great shelf life, which is probably why you don't find it very often at local cheese counters. Sun Dec 18 15:32:17 -0800 2005 204042 0 jeff diamond