1Combine 3 tablespoons of water and 3 tablespoons of whole milk in a pan and heat it up over medium heat for about 20 seconds.
2Add 2 tablespoons of bread flour to the pan and mix until it forms a paste-like consistency, similar to mashed potatoes, which takes about 45 seconds.
3Transfer the starter paste to a different container and set it aside to cool down.
4In a mixing bowl, combine 2.5 cups of bread flour, 2 tablespoons of dry milk powder, 1 teaspoon of garlic powder (optional), 1 teaspoon of salt, 0.25 cup of granulated sugar, 1 tablespoon of yeast, 1 egg, 6 tablespoons of melted butter, and 0.5 cup of whole milk.
5Mix the ingredients using a stand mixer with a dough hook on a speed between medium and low for 8 minutes, or mix by hand until the dough reaches a soft consistency.
6Place the dough in a bowl, cover it with plastic wrap or a warm towel, and let it sit on the counter for about an hour or until it doubles in size.
7While the bread is proving, prepare the roasted garlic by cutting off the top part of one garlic bulb.
8Place the garlic bulb on a piece of foil, drizzle with olive oil, and sprinkle with a little salt and pepper.
9Wrap the garlic in foil and roast it in the oven at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for about 40 minutes.
10Prepare the herbs for the butter by stripping a few sprigs of thyme and finely chopping them, then chop some chives.
11Once the roasted garlic is done, squeeze the soft garlic cloves into a mixing bowl.
12Add the chopped herbs, one stick of softened butter, and a little black truffle salt to the bowl with the roasted garlic.
13Mix all the ingredients together until well combined to create the roasted garlic and herb butter.
14Once the dough has doubled in size, place it on a flat surface and divide it into 8 equal portions.
15Form each portion of dough into a perfect bun shape by folding the dough in and pushing up, then using a cupping motion with your hand for about 20 seconds per bun.
16Arrange the rolled-out buns snugly in a dish.
17Cover the buns again and let them prove for another 30 minutes.
18After the second proving, brush the tops of the buns with an egg wash (one egg yolk beaten up) to give them a golden-brown finish.
19Bake the buns in the oven at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for about 25 minutes.
20Once baked, take some of the roasted garlic and herb butter and spread it on top of the warm buns so it melts into them.