UKBouldering.com
the shizzle => shootin' the shit => food & drink => Topic started by: Bonjoy on August 18, 2008, 03:17:02 pm
-
One positive upshot of the frequent rain is that the Mushroom season is on us already. So far this season I’ve had Horse Mushrooms – had these with bacon in an omelette; Hedgehog Mushrooms – Venison Stroganoff; Chanterelles – Chanterelle Gratin and Chicken of the Woods – with chicken in a garlicky, cream and white wine pasta sauce.
So what have the rest of you been finding and creating in the kitchen? I'm only interested in tales of edible mushrooms here, magic mushrooms are another (worthy) topic all together.
-
Only found a few Liberty caps last week and was rather surprised they were about so early in the year :whistle:
I'm actually pretty shit when it comes to identifying edible 'shrooms. Have a few books, and know what waxy meadow caps look like, but just don't trust myself enough not to shut down (whats left of) my liver accidentally. Would be keen for a fungal foray similar to the one a year or so ago if one could be organised?
-
Coming out in full force up here. Need to get a copy of the good book.
-
I haven't had a chance to go for a good look yet (I hope the wheather is good enough Friday to go out with Hugo) but there gthe boletus crop looks good.
What about a foray followed by some pints in the Grouse, we could invite Mick Ryan.
-
Mick loves panther caps :)
-
Last night’s collection. Chanterelles, one Cep, Saffron Milkcaps, Wood Mushrooms, Parasols, Shaggy Parasols and Hedgehog Mushrooms.
(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3245/2821175530_259a1ba0c9_o.jpg)
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3245/2821175530_259a1ba0c9_o.jpg (http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3245/2821175530_259a1ba0c9_o.jpg)
Gratuitous Stinkhorn shot
(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3222/2820335613_7efbd787f7_o.jpg)
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3222/2820335613_7efbd787f7_o.jpg (http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3222/2820335613_7efbd787f7_o.jpg)
-
Good haul there. Think I might try heading out tomorrow, those Chanterelles lookg well tasty.
Without giving away your honeypots is there anywhere else you can recommend beyond Longshaw?
-
Need to take some tupperware with me next time I'm biking. Out near aboyne on Sunday I could have gatered a couple of kilos.
-
Good haul there. Think I might try heading out tomorrow, those Chanterelles lookg well tasty.
Without giving away your honeypots is there anywhere else you can recommend beyond Longshaw?
Couldn't really say much without giving it away.
Generally speaking you want be looking in old woodland under Beech, Oak and Pine (in that order). The presence of Spruce and Sycamore often mean low quality woodland from a mushrooming point of view.The edges of the woods are usually the best areas. Damp mossy ground is good as are sunny slopes (south or west facing).
To be honest I've spent many years picking around the peak area and there aren't very many spots where you are likely to find Chanterelles and Hedgehog Mushrooms, but you do stand a good chance of finding Ceps dotted about all over the place, plus all the other mushrooms in that haul.
Things like Parasols and Giant Puffballs are hard to hunt out specifically as they seem to grow in fairly random locations, however they are easy to spot from a car window being big and pale. Just be careful not to vear off the road !
-
i've noticed dense pine to be pretty barren from an undergrowth point of view. Pity, as there is a hell of a lot of them round here. Open grassland seems to be good too. Good knowledge though.
-
saw this new story today and thought of you folks - take care with those mushrooms! :o
(from the times)
The author of the best-selling novel The Horse Whisperer is critically ill after eating poisonous mushrooms while on holiday in the Highlands.
Nicholas Evans, 58, his wife Charlotte, her brother Sir Alistair Gordon-Cumming, 54, and his wife Lady Louise, 46, consumed amanita virosa, a deadly basidiomycete fungus more commonly known as the destroying angel.
All four are now being treated in hospital. Mr Evans is on a dialysis machine and the other three are said to be seriously ill.
Mr Evans and his family ate the mushrooms after a woodland stroll through Sir Alistair’s 12,000-acre estate in Moray, where the writer and his wife were on holiday.
Destroying angels resemble several species of edible mushrooms but are among the most poisonous found in Europe. As little as half a mushroom can kill.
Symptoms, including vomiting, diarrhoea, cramps, delirium and convulsions, can take up to 24 hours to develop, potentially reducing the efficacy of medical intervention as the victims’ organs will already have absorbed the toxins. The poison has no known antidote but treating patients with huge doses of antibiotics can improve survival. In patients developing liver failure, only a liver transplant can avoid death.
Destroying angels are from the same family as the lethal death cap mushroom. They are similar in appearance to edible puff balls, and can also be mistaken for field mushrooms. Although the destroying angel can be distinguished by its brown gills, if picked while still immature its caps remain closed and the gills are not visible.
Mr Evans and his relatives are thought to have picked the mushrooms while strolling through Sir Alistair’s Altyre estate, between Forres and Grantown-on-Spey and ate them later. Sir Alistair is the chief of the Clan Cumming.
-
It's amazing how stupid some people are! Anyone mistaking a Destroying Angel for anthing other than another poisonous Amanita is a blatant half-wit and should stay well clear of foraging altogether.
-
Apparently it was Cortinarius rubella - The Deadly webcap not Destroying Angel, which is slightly more excusable but still half-witted in the extreme.
-
I'm out for a foray in the peak this afternoon if anyone cares to join me, I can't claim to have the same level of expertise as Bonjoy but I can guarantee that I know the difference between a cep and a death cap.
PS that's a bloody fine haul!
-
is it just me or are the short hand names for mushrooms absolutely fantastic? they are like richie patter names for boulder problems. 'huge pumping pistons of death' etc.
-
Actually I've just thought of a Chanterelle patch I can give away if anyone is keen, as I don't think I'll be checking it for the foreseeable. I'd wager there will be Chanterelles there now. Park as for the majority of the Churnet bouldering and follow the path down the left side of the lake as if going to Wright's Rock. Keep looking behind fence, under the hedge on your right. There are several Chanterelle patches well hidden under bushes not too far either side of where the path turns left for Wright's. Let me know if anyone has any success. The woods round the lake are a pretty good place to look for Ceps also.
-
Cheers for that Bonjoy.
The race is now on, just got to get my arse out there.
-
Okay, I've decided I need to get a book to help avoid any dumb mistakes. I've a pocket Collins Gem one with drawings, and a coffee table style large one with lots of pretty pictures, but feel I need something more accurate (in the former case, hand-drawings are nice but esaily mis-interpreted) and practical (in the later, don't want to ruin the book).
Sooo, can anyone recommend me a good field guide to edible 'shrooms?
Of course there are lots out there, and many seem to get good reviews, but was wondering if anyone here as any experience of these (pictures are hyper-linked to relevant Amazon page)...
(http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51lT9H0CZzL._SL500_BO2,204,203,200_PIsitb-dp-500-arrow,TopRight,45,-64_OU02_AA240_SH20_.jpg) (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Field-Edible-Mushrooms-Britain-Europe/dp/1845374193/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1220430515&sr=8-1) (has a web-site (http://www.tastymushroompartnership.co.uk/) to supplement it). Perhaps a little large, but like the idea of it covering Europe in case I ever find myself on holiday in the right season.
(http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51YPGd4q%2BRL._SL500_AA240_.jpg) (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Identify-Edible-Mushrooms-Patrick-Harding/dp/0007259611/ref=pd_sim_b_4)
(http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51N63Z2J5SL._SL500_BO2,204,203,200_PIsitb-dp-500-arrow,TopRight,45,-64_OU02_AA240_SH20_.jpg) (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Easy-Edible-Mushroom-Guide/dp/1854106317/ref=pd_sim_b_8) This one sound promising
(http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/516YSXP908L._SL500_AA240_.jpg) (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Mushroom-Hunting-Collins-Need-Know/dp/000721507X/ref=pd_sim_b_3) This one doesn't
(http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51FNAVESIsL._SL500_AA240_.jpg) (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Mushrooms-River-Cottage-Handbook-No-1/dp/0747589321/ref=pd_sim_b_7) This ones winning at the moment based on amazon reviews.
(http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51AS68CYYSL._SL500_AA240_.jpg) (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Complete-Mushroom-Book-Quiet-Hunt/dp/1844001636/ref=pd_sim_b_13) Also sounds good, but perhaps a bit big for field use.
(http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/5190N73771L._SL500_AA240_.jpg) (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Mushroom-Pickers-Foolproof-Field-Guide/dp/1842158171) Another contender, but a bit big I think.
If anyone (and it doesn't have to be the resident expert Bonjoy) has used any of the above (or indeed has one not listed) I'd be grateful for thoughts/advice.
Cheers
slack---line
-
Splash out and get THE classic text:
(http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41GA15JP66L._SL500_AA240_.jpg)
Nothing else comes close as far as field guides go.
The Carluccio one is very good for recipes though.
-
Shot of a Cep from a few years back. Insitu at a popular grit bouldering spot
(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3053/2824166433_86a86eccd7.jpg)
-
Perhaps a little large, but like the idea of it covering Europe in case I ever find myself on holiday in the right season.
Don't worry too much about getting anything other than a good UK guide, fungi are suprisingly widely distributed due to the spores being so easily dispersed. I found this out in Patagonia; there was barely a single animal or plant common with the Uk yet the fungi were mostly the same.
-
Splash out and get THE classic text:
(http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41GA15JP66L._SL500_AA240_.jpg)
Nothing else comes close as far as field guides go.
The Carluccio one is very good for recipes though.
Just got home and checked and I already have a copy of Phillips (the "larger one with lots or pretty pictures" couldn't remember what it was, although its cover differs from the one on amazon) and I'd rather not take it out with me. No doubt fine for identifying post haul, but I'd rather not lug it around and ruin it (I'm a bit of a sad bibliophile).
Might plump for the Country Cottage one.
Good point on the Europe/abroad front JB, shame d'em Psilocybe cubensis et al. don't thrive on our shores.
-
The UK's Psilocybe semiliceata is gram for gram stronger than Psilocybe cubensis, it's just a lot smaller. If you want a larger one like Cubensis the Psilocybe cyanocens is becoming common on mulched beds. I know a Tesco carpark where they come up every year.
-
The UK's Psilocybe semiliceata is gram for gram stronger than Psilocybe cubensis, it's just a lot smaller. If you want a larger one like Cubensis the Psilocybe cyanocens is becoming common on mulched beds. I know a Tesco carpark where they come up every year.
REALLY? Any chance of a location?
-
I'm hoping to collect the whole lot this year and dry, but will PM you if I do and arrange to send a sample.
-
Nice one cheers. How is it that you have such mushroom knowledge? Is it part of your job?
Si.
-
Okay, got my arse out to Padley Gorge and the Longshaw Estate yesterday and spent a good few hours wandering around eyeing up 'shrooms trying to work out what they were and whether they're worth picking.
Here are the fruits of my labour (apologies for the length) and my educated deductions (using Phillips and a pocket size Collins Gem guide) as to whether they're edible (I've shot some pics of the picked fruits with greater detail and will upload them in due course). All pics are hyper-linked to their page on flickr where you can view larger versions (if you reeeaaaally want to).
Common Yellow Rusulla (Russula ochroleuca)
(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3221/2833866785_290564724f.jpg?v=0) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/slackline/2833866785/)
Lots of these about, seemed very popular with slugs, picked a few of the more complete ones. Not sure about eating though, may be easily confused with Yellow Swamp Rusulla (R. claroflava) which aren't edible.
Common Earth Ball (Scleroderma citrinium)
(http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2420/2834695348_03d0f7de27.jpg?v=0) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/slackline/2834695348/)
Picked a couple of these as I remember reading most puffballs are edible, but upon checking these particular species are't so they've been ditched.
Tawny Grisette (Amanita fulva)
(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3107/2834725968_76b3474069.jpg?v=0) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/slackline/2834725968/)
Pretty 'shroom, if I've got the ID correct its edible, but might give it a miss as Amanita species are often poisonous and I wouldn't want to make a mistkae.
Boletus (either Boletus pruinatus or Boletus granulatus)
(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3059/2834747842_3568da336d.jpg?v=0) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/slackline/2834747842/)
Either species are edible, the former is rare, so I suspect its the later. (Upon reviewing the picture at home I've learnt a valuable lesson about clearing the foreground when shooting 'shrooms :P)
Lycoperdon perlatum
(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3183/2834803180_741ea13fca.jpg?v=0) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/slackline/2834803180/)
Should have picked some of these over the other puff-balls, as (if I've got the species correct) these are edible when young.
Red-cracked Boletus (Boletus chrysenteron)
(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3040/2833974851_4f7a723186.jpg?v=0) (http://Lycoperdon perlatum)
Scarlett Hood (Hygrocybe coccinea)
(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3230/2833990279_31cf371c89.jpg?v=0) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/slackline/2833990279/)
Picked these on a whim as they're quite striking and turns out they're supposedly quite tasty.
Hygrophorus sp.
(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3283/2833986515_0301fbb68a.jpg?v=0) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/slackline/2833986515/)
Picked quite a few of these, I think I've actually got two species, Blackening Wax Cap (<i>Hygrocybe nigrescens</i>) which are orange or scarlet and the Conical Wax Cap (<i>Hygrocybe conicus</i>) which are yellow-orange. Both are edible, but the later isn't recommended.
Liverty Cap (Psilocybe semilanceata)
(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3153/2834842312_309a96a1f3.jpg?v=0) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/slackline/2834842312/)
Don't think I need to say much about these ;)
Others I'm pretty sure aren't edible
Blusher (Amanita rubescens)
(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3090/2834798898_6f414dff36.jpg?v=1220780827) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/slackline/2834798898/)
Edible when cooked apparently, but not one I'm going to test (although tempted to get some roasted Fly Agaric at some point, maybe).
Brick Caps (Hypholoma sublateritium)
(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3195/2833934599_a4a329a213.jpg?v=0) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/slackline/2833934599/)
???
(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3228/2833955839_74bca1c99f.jpg?v=0) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/slackline/2833955839/)
No idea, but whatever it is its getting towards the end of its life (cap curling up with gills clearly showing round the edge).
Bolbitius vitellinus
(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3272/2833919583_ebf4ec2361.jpg?v=0) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/slackline/2833919583/)
Not too sure the species is correct, but seems to match the picture, and it was growing on a big pile of rotting wood.
Not sussed these ones yet, but there were lots of them...
(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3165/2833923903_e63b8465b4.jpg?v=0) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/slackline/2833923903/)
(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3210/2834753420_0127d3ed05.jpg?v=0) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/slackline/2834753420/)
I've some more pics, but will leave it there for now. Photographing fungi is almost as much fun picking them :thumbsup:
-
Good skills. All the IDs seem correct, except the first boletus looks like Bay boletus - Boletus badius to me, but couldn't say for sure without looking at the pores and staining.
That mystery orange one is another Hygrophorus species (Waxcap) of some sort. In the top field opposite the hall you get Pink Waxcaps which are pretty rare and quite unusual looking.
-
Apparently this wet shite apology for weather has had the (not inconsiderable) consolation of providing a bumper year for truffles in this country all I need now is an english truffle hound...
bugger.
-
8) Thanks for the confirmation on ID's Bonjoy, very much appreciated.
Checked out the description of Boletus badius and compared it to the harvested one, and your almost definitely correct. Bonus is that Philips indicates that its tasty. Fortunately the mis-identification wouldn't have resulted in sickness.
All of a sudden I'm not too bothered if its drizzling at the weekend as I've something else to do now. Time to dig out the maps and seek out potential foraging venues (or perhaps start with some :google: ).
-
(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3228/2833955839_74bca1c99f.jpg?v=0)
That mystery orange one is another Hygrophorus species (Waxcap) of some sort. In the top field opposite the hall you get Pink Waxcaps which are pretty rare and quite unusual looking.
Could it be Camarophyllus pratensis?
Nice pics Slack-line, and props for doing your ID before picking. Too many folk take the lazy option and pick everything and identify at home. Not only is this harder for ID, as you lose habitat context, its also bad for diversity. Some fields in The Peak have SSSI status partly based on the occurence of rare Waxcaps - try to resist the temptation to eat these!
-
It looks too small and too orange to be Meadow Waxcap - Camarophyllus/Hygrocybe pratensis . You do get lots of Meadow Waxcaps growing around there, but they are bigger and have a more peachy colour, tending to turn paler as they get old. They also have an unusually domed cap for a Waxcap which doesn't normally become extremely convexed like the pictured mushroom.
-
Fair points, although
They also have an unusually domed cap for a Waxcap which doesn't normally become extremely convexed like the pictured mushroom.
isn't what my book or Rogers suggests
Cap 3–8cm across, convex then flattened with broad umbo, becoming distorted and often cracking with age, ochraceous or tawny-buff.
I've seen another picture which is almost certainly the same species which is also totally convexed. strangulata seems the most likely but is rather orange? Tricky group.
-
Ooops I meant concave not convex. I have seen them flare up at the edges a bit, but not as much as that picture. Even old specimens tend to retain the umbo to some extent. Anything so old as to be that concave would be much paler. Strangulata seems more likely or reidii
-
One which may intrest you VonJoy...
the recent imported eco soil, laid upon the bishopsgate tower, EC2, London,(80mtrs) has sprouted a magnificent hoard of shrooms and is not even finished construction?
-
I was wrong in saying that I have Roger Phillips' Mushroom book, instead I actually have his...
(http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41YFQ64A1ML._SS500_.jpg)
...which is excellent in helping identify the things that you pick.
-
Just stumbled on Rogers Mushrooms (http://www.rogersmushrooms.com/) which is based on the book below. Pretty handy (but not as nice as the book).
-
That is just the old edition of the current book and is pretty much just as good as the new one. The new one has a few extra species (not loads), some new pics and updated taxonomy
-
:oops: I was confused by the change in title.
-
Nice pics Slack-line, and props for doing your ID before picking. Too many folk take the lazy option and pick everything and identify at home. Not only is this harder for ID, as you lose habitat context, its also bad for diversity. Some fields in The Peak have SSSI status partly based on the occurence of rare Waxcaps - try to resist the temptation to eat these!
Cheers JB, had a go at identifying most things before picking, those I wasn't sure of I only took one or two samples of to identify at home for future reference (but took pictures in-situ to further aid identification).
Found a couple of ceps in Chatsworth Gardens yesterday, mmm tasty.
(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3166/2858168094_b56962bbc0.jpg?v=0) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/slackline/2858168094/)
Lots of Russula species out there too, most in better nick than the ones I found around Padley Gorge.
-
Nice Buns sir!
Anyone checked that Chanterelle patch in the Churnet yet?
-
What are my chances of finding ceps in Wharncliffe/Grenoside woods? (There are some Pine right.)
Are they as easy to identify as my research suggests?
Am I a dumb ass for thinking I can do this without a book?
-
Most of the woods I've seen around Wharncliffe have been Oak, but it's a big wood with lots of different areas. Look out for areas of Beech and look along the edge of the wood. I'm sure there must be Ceps in there somewhere.
They are pretty easy to ID, esspecially if you use rogersmushrooms.com to help.
-
Beech huh. Just found on the good old internet there is apparently a beech wood just off Woodhead Road with an open field on its right. Could be cep central. I'll report back.
-
A quick heads-up, I was at Rivelin yesterday and the birch woods seemed well stocked with mushrooms. I'm too ignorant to i.d. them but there was quite a variety: puffbally ones, fly-algaric looking fellas, yellow ones with concave caps etc. Unfortunately some appeared to be rotting away but it might be worth a look if you are a passing enthusiast.
-
Just watching something on BBC 2 about mushrooms - for the funghi finders amongst you it might be worth checking on the iplayer shizz if you missed it...
They're looking for British truffles in a "secret location" in the Peak District - don't know if any of you recognise it!
-
In the peak?! Shit the bed, I've never heard of truffles in the peak. Can't believe I missed that!
-
I was coming to tell you about the BBC2 programme but I'm late. Looked like they found lots of good stuff.
-
I'll be friends for life with anyone who tells me where the spot was they found, but doesn't tell Bonjoy ;)
-
Do you have a trained pig at the ready?
-
I work with one of them.
-
How does this iplayer thing work? I have a video capable ipod and itunes on my PC, is there anything else I need? I must check this out, I'd be surprised if I couldn't figure out where their 'secret' location was.
-
You don't need either mate........
http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00dmg9s/b00dmfqj/ (http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00dmg9s/b00dmfqj/)
-
Man on a mission there.
I'd like a pet peg. Or a pet wild boar!!
-
I work with one of them.
We have several in our office.
-
Here's a stupid, but on topic, question.
The types of mushrooms they had on the BBC programme last night, and wild mushrooms in general, do they taste very different to bog standard mushrooms? I don't like regular mushrooms (http://www.worldcommunitycookbook.org/season/guide/photos/mushrooms.jpg) but I feel like I'm missing out not eating any at all, would fancy mushrooms (http://aboutgardening.files.wordpress.com/2008/06/mushrooms1.jpg) taste very different?
I think I need that man to come round and cook me lasagne, and no, that's not a euphemism.
-
I'm not the world's biggest fan of mushrooms per se but I've found the fancier ones I do tend to like more.
I found a while ago that Oyster and Shittake mushrooms greatly improved how favourably I look upon mushrooms...
-
No Ceps found last night at the top of Wharncliffe woods. Did find some Laccaria amethystea and Russula mairei though. The woods are very dark up there and are made up of beech, oak, sycamore and silver birch. Lots of leaf litter and brambles below.
Gonna take better equipment tonight like a proper camera and a notepad so I can identify the others I found. Think I'll venture over to the Grenoside side.
Magpie, Have a look round your local supermarket. They might be stocking a few different types of mushroom at this time of the year.
-
Magpie, Have a look round your local supermarket. They might be stocking a few different types of mushroom at this time of the year.
I might have a go with different ones, as long as they don't all taste exactly the same as the normal ones.
-
I find wild mushrooms do actually have a taste, rather than the tasteless button type things you get in the supermarket. And they all taste subtly different. Worth a try anyway.
-
Some taste more different than others. The textures are often pretty different from standard mushroom which is a domesticated version of Agaricus bisporus.
Some that are quite a bit different to these are:
Chicken Of The Woods – Soft fibrous texture not unlike chicken breast, slightly sharp flavour. Great in stir fry or with bacon in creamy pasta sauce.
Jew’s Ear – Crisp gelatinous texture, very little flavour. The texture works really well in spring rolls and Chinese style noodle soups.
Parasol – Very chickeny flavour, turn a bit soft when cooked. Makes exceptional mushroom pate and fritters.
Blewits – Fragrant almost floral flavour, normal mushroomy texture. Good with pork and chicken, in pies and casseroles.
Saffron Milkcap – Maintains its firm slightly brittle/crumbly texture when cooked. Slightly sweet fragrant taste. Great fried simple with garlic and parsley on toast.
Morels – Superb rich almost smoky flavour, firm slightly brittle texture. Brilliant fine dining mushroom. I really like them stuffed with smoked polish sopoka ham, brie and wine, then baked; or reduced with cream and wine, on top of fillet steak.
Aniseed Clitocybe – Normal mushroom texture. Sweet aniseed aroma and taste. Have yet to cook these. Founds some last week and have dried to use as flavouring in place of Tarragon.
I could go on.
-
Ever found/eaten a "beef steak" fungi Bonjoy? When I saw Mr Mears cooking one in butter on the telly it looked amazing and he seemed to enjoy it.
-
To be fair he seems to enjoy everything, even if it's totally rank.
-
True but this thing looked like steak when he cut it open. Mmmmm steak.
-
...lots of good mushroom stuff...
Brilliant, thank you, half the time it's a texture thing with mushrooms as well as the taste I'm not keen on so some of them sound very appealing, I'll have a look at what I can get hold of.
I just need to find someone clever enough to cook them for me now :-\
-
Ever found/eaten a "beef steak" fungi Bonjoy? When I saw Mr Mears cooking one in butter on the telly it looked amazing and he seemed to enjoy it.
Yes, they are fairly common in old oak woods. Chatsworth estate is a good place to look. I find they look better than they taste. They have a slightly tart flavour. I enjoyed eating them, but it wasn't amazing. It may well be that I've just not found the best way to deal with them in the kitchen yet
-
I just need to find someone clever enough to cook them for me now
Mr Sharma could be trained....
if he stays off the weed and we can find a fungi cooking expert with A LOT of patience
-
Just watched What to Eat Now on iplayer. Hmmmm, looks like cut n paste, no integrity, anything to make 'the scene', usual TV bollocks. Despite claiming they were searching limestone areas, everywhere they went (and they went to at least four different places) looked to be acidic grit woodland. I recognised two of the places they went. One was my best area in the peak so I won't say where it is, the other was Longshaw. The strange thing about the Longshaw scene was that they went to a favourite Cep spot and did a scene with them finding Ceps, but what the camera showed them picking appeared very unusual for Ceps! First was a close up shot of him picking what looked like Leccinum scabrum. Then he was shown handling one which looked wrong, far too shiny and dark brown; and with the wrong coloured stipe, a bit like Leccinum roseofractum, but could have been a painted mushroom made of wood. No wonder the mushroom expert guy looked rather uncomfortable throughout. My guess is they cobbled a bogus scene together for the camera using disparate locations and fungi :-\ .Frauds I tell you. Does this look like Cep to you?
(http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2343/2863022645_7bd1b8321e.jpg)
A pic of a real peak cep for comparison
(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3053/2824166433_86a86eccd7.jpg)
-
Aha. Did a bit of googling and found the truffle expert guy discussing the day on another website. Sounds like it was Leccinum
Stewy wrote:
Where was the "penny bun" Truffle? I watched and matey was on about ceps/penny buns and seemed to have a Brown birch bolete or something similar on his hands?
Exactly! we waxed on about how these are often included in 'cep' or 'porcini' dry mixes (they are nearly always a mix of boletus) which was lost in the editing (i wanted it on the voice over too) and we did find some small edulis, but not the ones on the close-up. I've learnt before that your at the mercy of editors, no great problem in this case i think. I've had worse which was edited so that it sounded like I grew truffles in petri dishes with nothing to do with trees .Got some wonderful edulis a week after, hoping for some more this weekend...
Truffle
edit- we collect a lot of leccinum around here- the specimen shown in the close-up being held is from a tree that produces the most amazing mushies- firm, nutty and taste just like a cep. most of the brown birch boletes (leccinum) round here are soft, watery and poorly flavored.- good for drying though.
-
I had a somewhat lengthy dream last night that I'd found a fairly sizable haul of some sort of Boletus and was fretting because I didn't know how to cook them.
I blame Bonjoy for this.
-
You should have had the smallest firmest ones as raw cep carpacio with parmesan, olive oil, lemon juice and pepper. The rest you should have dried and used for making Risotto.
-
ref mushrooms and dreams:
t'other night, ate some rather tasty hedgehog fungus (hydnum repandum?) with fresh pasta, garlic, butter and hints of rosemary and lemon
rather bizarrely awoke at 4am mid-dream having just re-arranged a magentic letter board into the words
Anal Refreshment
...my parter was nonplussed
-
rather bizarrely awoke at 4am mid-dream having just re-arranged a magentic letter board into the words
Anal Refreshment
...my parter was nonplussed
You keep a magnetic letter board next to the bed or were you sleeping in the fridge?
-
Seems its more than Bonjoy's car-park that has some unusual/foreign 'shrooms turning up.
More truffles have been found in Clumber Park (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7660405.stm) (although they may have been there all along).
-
Mushrooms are a popular addition to many kinds of dishes
the caption under the photo in that article :lol:
-
This is going :off: , but I can't believe that article appeared on the BBC website. It reads like it was written by an 11 year old. And as for starting a sentence with the word "and".....
-
(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3035/2938912509_8b3ab33f80.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/roger/2938912509/)
An amethyst deceiver mushroom (Laccaria amethystina).
Photographed on the National Trust estate at Longshaw in Derbyshire. (http://www.flickr.com/photos/roger/2938912509/)
Not mine, but just found this on flickr 8)
-
i'm actually blushing
-
Found these growing from the bottom of a tomato pot.
Look like oysters, can anyone confirm?
(http://i849.photobucket.com/albums/ab54/rowiebee/chris%20pics/P1020323.jpg?t=1255887429)
(http://i849.photobucket.com/albums/ab54/rowiebee/chris%20pics/P1020322.jpg?t=1255887511)
There's a hole in the the underside of one, bottom left of bottom pic, is it going to be wormy?
Thanks
-
Yes, those are Oyster Mushrooms. To be honest they look a bit too old and waterlogged to make good eating, sorry.
-
Cheers, a shame they are a bit mashed as I only saw they were there after I had given the pots a good watering moved pots, and squashed them a bit. Will keep an eye on them and hopefully try and catch them when they are a bit fresher if any more grow.
Are they hard to dry out? Or not worth it.
-
If they are fairly fresh and young it could be worth leaving for a day or two to dry.
-
(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3035/2938912509_8b3ab33f80.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/roger/2938912509/)
An amethyst deceiver mushroom (Laccaria amethystina).
Photographed on the National Trust estate at Longshaw in Derbyshire. (http://www.flickr.com/photos/roger/2938912509/)
Not mine, but just found this on flickr 8)
That's one sexual shroom
-
None too sure what these are? Don't think they're steinpilze?
(http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e67/houdini2/IMG_1541.jpg)
Regardless, any suggestions on good ways to eat them? Meat free if poss. Thanks in advance.
-
Had a session foraging for fungi in the Saveranke forest last weekend and there were loads about. Couldn't find any of the easily identifiable edible ones though. Any help with identification of any of the below would be nice.
Magpie inkcap?
(http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4085/4982950883_3962b5ace6_m.jpg)
common puffball?
(http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4108/4982946989_4d8654c8ca_m.jpg)
Parasol?
(http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4129/4982942803_6a5c06508f_m.jpg)
Destroying Angel?
(http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4131/4983538904_f70d183496_m.jpg)
Earthball?
(http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4147/4982934051_bafc861972_m.jpg)
Amethyst Deceiver?
(http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4151/4983535932_6222f4fe09_m.jpg)
No idea.
(http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4141/4982931727_caa6082fcc_m.jpg)
?
(http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4124/4983516862_f54f19bf8b_m.jpg)
?
(http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4147/4982920895_6f1e72ff85_m.jpg)
?
(http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4107/4982927547_e24628c8d9_m.jpg)
-
I think this one might be the notorious death cap. Not 100% sure though. I definitely wouldn't eat it.
(http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4147/4982920895_6f1e72ff85_m.jpg)
Incidentally in the Guardian today (G2 section), there was a guide to mushroom foraging.
-
?
(http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4124/4983516862_f54f19bf8b_m.jpg)
Chantrelle.
-
More likely a false chantrelle or a type of clitocybe.
As for the death cap my money would be on a panther cap but you're right it's an aminat and not for the table.
Amethyst deceiver is spot on, helped by the colour but also look for widely spaced decurrent gills.
-
Thanks Guys,
We decided that the yellow ones probably weren't Chanterelles as they weren't fluted enough and they were a bit sticky on top.
It's a bit more obvious in a bigger photo.
(http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4124/4983516862_f54f19bf8b_z.jpg)
-
those definitely aren't chanterelles - they should have a totally wrinkled margin, kind of fluted - not flat with a dimple in the middle.
supposedly common under conifers but i've only ever found them on n facing wooded slopes under birch trees.
bring on the hunt!
-
Where's Bonjoy? I'll guess at Saffron Milkcap, for a laugh. The Boy will know.
-
Chanterelles have primitive gills, a bit more like a vascular forearm than conventional symetrical gills. In addition they have irregular margins which this does not. Could be a milk cap but there are a no of orange variants so you'd need to know if it exuded milk when broken. Personally I'd go for a false chanterelle
The common puffball is most likely common but could be a pedicel puffball.
The deathcap is a panther cap.
The bottom piccy looks like a spiny puffball.
Nothing tasty here but amethyst deceivers look great in salads. Hoping for a bumper hall of ceps, chanterelles and pied de mouton tomorrow. Yummy!
-
We agree on two, how's fatherhood going, have you founf the volume control yet?
-
I saw some very nice fly agaric at the far right of Millstone the other evening ..... Anyone got a reindeer handy so that I can process them ? .....
-
There were/are some whopping prime specimen's of (pretty sure) fly agaric just by Ju Ju club at Caley yesterday. Left them be as I don't trust my ability to confirm ID and prepare without spannering my guts/organs!
-
Had a session foraging for fungi in the Saveranke forest last weekend and there were loads about. Couldn't find any of the easily identifiable edible ones though. Any help with identification of any of the below would be nice.
Magpie inkcap? Correct
(http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4085/4982950883_3962b5ace6_m.jpg)
common puffball? Correct
(http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4108/4982946989_4d8654c8ca_m.jpg)
Parasol? Correct family, but a poisonous rather than edible one i.e a Lepiota rather than a Macrolepiota
(http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4129/4982942803_6a5c06508f_m.jpg)
Destroying Angel? No volva and not pure enough white, so prob not Destroying Angel. hard to tell from pic but looks like an Agaricus
(http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4131/4983538904_f70d183496_m.jpg)
Earthball? Correct
(http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4147/4982934051_bafc861972_m.jpg)
Amethyst Deceiver? Correct
(http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4151/4983535932_6222f4fe09_m.jpg)
No idea. hard to tell from pic, possibly a young Blusher
(http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4141/4982931727_caa6082fcc_m.jpg)
? False Chanterelle
(http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4124/4983516862_f54f19bf8b_m.jpg)
? Blusher
(http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4147/4982920895_6f1e72ff85_m.jpg)
? Puffball
(http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4107/4982927547_e24628c8d9_m.jpg)
-
Anyone care to identify this crop of Bolets. The first one I'm sure is Cepes de bordeaux. Don't want any boletus amer in my omelette!
<img src="http://www.flickr.com/photos/28761504@N06/5046981197/"/>
<img src="http://www.flickr.com/photos/28761504@N06/5047603666/"/>
<img src="http://www.flickr.com/photos/28761504@N06/5047603986/"/>
<img src="http://www.flickr.com/photos/28761504@N06/5047604288/"/>
All were found in Fontainebleau
Thanks in advance and apologies for the poor quality photos and not being able to understand how to display them properly.
-
Thanks in advance and apologies for the poor quality photos and not being able to understand how to display them properly.
Use the "Share this" button above each picture, choose BBCode and the size of the image you want it displayed as. All explained here (http://www.ukbouldering.com/wiki/index.php/HowTo_Embed_Pictures_to_UKBouldering) (or on the Flickr site itself somewhere)
-
Thanks!
(http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4106/5046981197_63b47ccbe2_z.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/28761504@N06/5046981197/)032 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/28761504@N06/5046981197/#) by lemaitre_sophie (http://www.flickr.com/people/28761504@N06/), on Flickr
(http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4152/5047603666_de9caeb131_z.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/28761504@N06/5047603666/)031 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/28761504@N06/5047603666/#) by lemaitre_sophie (http://www.flickr.com/people/28761504@N06/), on Flickr
(http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4112/5047603986_aa0fd417e5_z.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/28761504@N06/5047603986/)035 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/28761504@N06/5047603986/#) by lemaitre_sophie (http://www.flickr.com/people/28761504@N06/), on Flickr
(http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4110/5047604288_645a8419a8_z.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/28761504@N06/5047604288/)036 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/28761504@N06/5047604288/#) by lemaitre_sophie (http://www.flickr.com/people/28761504@N06/), on Flickr
-
Those in the top photo are ceps, second are bay boletes. Both very tasty.
Don't know about the bottom two i'm afraid.
-
Cheers! I'll try them tonight.
In the third picture the mushroom in the bottom left corner is different and have egg yolk yellow pores.
-
Wintermute is right on the top two. The next lot down are Brown Birch Boletus Leccinum scabrum, a bit too squashy and tasteless to be worth eating. The bottom one is hard to tell from the pic and is way too old and spongy to eat anyway, possibly an aged bay boletus.
-
Cheers for the confirmation. The first two made a couple of fantastic omelettes. I'd thought the same for the third photo so chucked them. The last one had turned into a pile of slime by yesterday.
-
http://www.flickr.com/photos/29465883@N07/5075974587/# (http://www.flickr.com/photos/29465883@N07/5075974587/#)
Edible Parasol?
-
Dunno, can't see it :P
-
Yes, deffo an edible Parasol, though I couldn't say which of the two common types without a closer look.
-
Morel season is in full swing, and despite there being no rain in the north of France for the past week still managed to pick 1/2 kilo near Soissons. Sadly we ate them before I had the chance to take a photo. Fantastic omelette for 3 people.
Anyone picking these back in the U.K? Bastards to spot.
-
I checked my usual spot last week. Bumper crop but some were a bit past their best, should have checked a week earlier. Dried the good ones for later use (usually I eat them fresh either in omelette, stuffed with brie and smoked ham or in a cream sauce on top of a steak). I totally love morels and am hoping to get out hunting for them again this week.
Also spotted some small and very early St George’s mushrooms last week.
-
Judging by the amount of trumpet chanterelles currently residing in my fridge it seems the season has begun! Anyone else had any early success?
-
Some small yellow chanterelles last week. Earlier in the year I got some chicken of the woods and horse mushrooms. There's definitely stuff about. Worth getting them now as they'll mostly disappear again if it stays dry for a few more days.
-
Just picked a Kg of jumbo chanterelles in my secret spot in Ireland. Looking forward to :popcorn: eating them with scrambled eggs for lunch.
-
Little haul of the very un-PC named "Jew's Ear". Great dried and added to chineesy soups.
-
Tried some jew's ears for the first time recently but couldn't get past the texture.... does drying them improve it at all?
-
The texture IS the appeal, they have precious little flavour. In the right context they are great (I think). Brilliant in crispy spring rolls.
They are bullet hard when dry and if re-hydrated become almost identical in texture to a fresh specimen.
-
Hmmm. Maybe i'll give it another go with a bit more forethought. To be fair i did just blanch them briefly and eat one on it's own to satisfy my curiosity, so perhaps not the best opportunity for them to excel.
If any Sheffieldians are interested (and as i was only there doing fieldwork so don't mind divulging a spot!) the aforementioned trumpet chanterelles were from the woods around the Moss brook just south of Mossborough. Floor was literally carpeted with them a few days ago. Also a ridiculously good place to get signal crayfish (assuming you have the relevant license of course).
-
(http://i1050.photobucket.com/albums/s404/fried71/mushrooms_zps6062f9b9.jpg) (http://s1050.photobucket.com/user/fried71/media/mushrooms_zps6062f9b9.jpg.html)
A little present from the brother-in-law and very late, but this year's been a bit strange, the JPS packet is just for scale as is the glass of pastis. I'm saving them for a 'blanquette de veau'.
-
:clap2: Very nice. I've still never found any M esculenta. The M elata patch came good again though, also quite late in the season. I put the lateness down to dryness and late cold conditions. Haven't seen any St George's yet mind.
-
What's the difference between the M esculentaan the M elata, I know that there are different colurs and normally these are considered the tastiest. These come from Soissons in the north east of France and It was brutally cold in April. St. Georges is something I've never searched for, any tips?
-
I haven't tasted esculenta so I couldn't say which is tastier, but elata are the best mushrooms I've tasted I reckon.
St George's are pretty common in the UK (not sure about france). Look for them late April through till the end of May, in unimproved grassland, parks and gardens. Often grow in rings. They have a distinct mealy/cucumbery smell. Very good eating. I like them best in cream sauces. They are one of the safest mushrooms to ID/eat as there are virtually no other large mushrooms out in this habitat at this time of year.
-
Cheers,I'll keep my eye out.
-
I've always been a bit dissapointed with morels..... maybe it's just my lack of culinary skill not doing them justice?.
On the bright side though, found a humble puffball yesterday. Psyched to find a good patch of giant ones in the near future.
-
Cottage we stayed in last week had dozens of inky caps growing in the garden, I'm too much of a wimp and didn't eat any though. For future reference is there any dangerous ones they can be confused with?
-
They are good for adding flavour to soup, if I remember correctly there is something that looks similiar that reacts badly with alcohol....
Usual disclaimer:- Check with an expert before eating.
-
Common Inkcaps should not be eaten with alcohol. Shaggy Inkcaps (actually much more common than Common Inkcaps) on the other hand are fine to eat with booze.
-
Had a great haul of shaggy inkcaps, ceps, hedgehog fungus and a few chanterelles at the weekend that made a lovely linguine with mixed mushrooms in a white wine sauce. one of the best meals I've had in a long while.
Shaggy inkcaps are indeed delicious and one of my faves. Fortunately they are common and tend to grow in large numbers, you just need to cook them before they deliquesce. Often found in recently turned ground and roadsides.
-
Just looked, definitely shaggy. Bugger. MTFU and tuck in Chris :(
-
Plenty of boletus on the walk in to Kyloe in the woods yesterday, a couple of dry days could lead to a bumper crop.
-
Any idea on these 3 (or even 4??) varieties?
(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-sc75q2SK39w/VDqKI-NxpRI/AAAAAAAAAq4/V4CFF8Xu3Jg/s720/PA120001.JPG)
(https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-sUaOihm46-I/VDqKJDVrpOI/AAAAAAAAAq4/IywXWaSV-hw/s720/PA120003.JPG)
(https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-2csg-ajWIfA/VDqKO8DLrXI/AAAAAAAAAq4/_Vt8z2nJxtA/s720/PA120005.JPG)
-
They look similar to deceivers, but very hard to tell, the golden rule is if in doubt leave it out.