Though the texture of fresh truffles is unmistakable in dishes, if you cannot find or afford whole truffles, a small amount of truffle oil can often provide a nice truffle flavor at a fraction of the cost. Look for truffle oil in upscale gourmet shops or through mail order at places such as Dean and DeLuca (NYC) or Williams-Sonoma. A small bottle will still be expensive, but if kept refrigerated it will last for up to 4 months. Truffle oil is delicious drizzled over simple pasta, rice, or potato dishes.