wasabi

wasabi

Tuesday, September 28, 2010

Oregon Chanterelles


There is a very good reason why the Pacific golden chanterelle is the official State mushroom of Oregon. With over 500,000 pounds of mushrooms harvested annually, cantharellus formosus is a thing of beauty and abundance in the Northwest. On a foraging trip this week with one friend, we harvested forty pounds of mushrooms in two hours! The chanterelle is one of the most diverse mushrooms in cooking combinations, pairing well with grains, fruits, beans, peppers, tomatoes, summer and fall squashes, poultry and wild game. For those that forage their own mushrooms, the chanterelle is one of the most delightful funghi of the wild, a field of bright orange buttons in on a carpet of green moss is a beautiful sight to behold, and a certain sign of the joy of autumn days.
I know that some restaurants, especially in the New England states, prefer high altitude bouchons, or high latitude chanterelles, such as the chanterelles of Saskatchewan. The Oregon chanterelle does grow quite fast in our climate, and can often become huge ragged trumpets. They aren't always as pretty as the cute little buttons of higher country, but I find the fragrance of our chanterelles to be the finest of its kind.

5 comments:

  1. The site is looking great. Very clean and sharp. Well done. And nice "stone cold" expression by the way. (:

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  2. Holy crap! 40 pounds? Tremendous! Would like to go out this weekend toward the Coast (from Portland). Any suggestions for places along 26? We scored a few pounds up near Larch Mtn. a few weekends ago, but it was few and far between. Thank you, kindly.

    Gm.

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  3. Larch Mountain is an area we call "picked over," meaning it is too well known. You are more likely to find already cut patches rather than mushrooms for dinner. There are plenty of generous forest areas on either side of Hwy 26, heading toward the coast, Tillamook Forest to the south, and Clatsop Forest to the north.

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  4. Thank you, David, for the answer. Apologies for my tardy acknowledgement. One last question: was hoping to head out on Hwy. 30, but a friend-shroom hunter says the cold may have eliminated most of them. Are you thinking this is correct. Much obliged.

    Gm.

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  5. For golden chanterelles, it is too late. It is not a cold tolerant mushroom. However, the winter varieties have just begun, yellowfoot chanterelles, black trumpets and hedgehogs will be growing for the next several months. Happy hunting.

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