cultivated chanterelles?

[CastIronCook2]

The other night a local restaurant provided an appetizer of fresh, local, wild chanterelles. I know they were true chanterelles, because, suspicious, I asked to see one; the waitress very courteously complied and brought me one straight from the kitchen. Of course I ordered the dish, and it was superb.

But here's the catch: wild chanterelle season around here doesn't begin for at least another two-and-a-half, three months at best. We simply haven't had enough rain to bring out a bloom. Someone must be growing them locally. I thought they were a species resistant to cultivation.

How is this possible? Could we do it ourselves?

[bookwormom]

we had a good chanterelle season here. Maybe they ones you ate were shipped.
Sepp Holzer from Austria claims that he has found a way to cultivate them, but I do not know any particulars or if that is indeed so.

[CastIronCook2]

bookwormmom, thanks for the reply. I'm gonna try a search for the Austrian fellow.

[sally]

I think I may have identified a mushroom I saw a few weeks ago! Chanterelles! I couldn't help but notice them, and they sure look just like a pic I saw. (third pic on http://www.slowmotiondoomsday.com/mushrooms.html) And I remember where I saw them.

That article also suggests gathering mushrooms in a loose basket, in order to sprinkle the spores further. Perhaps one can buy chanterelles and do something similar? Maybe the refrigeration doesn't affect the spores?

Next time I'll cut one off near the ground and see if I can smell an apricot or peach smell. And examine the gills and such. Woo! Could I actually become a mushroom hunter? What a nice 'shroom to begin with!

-Sally

[CastIronCook2]

Sally, before you go eating any wild mushrooms you may find, you're gonna need some more detailed photos and information than given on that website.

Start with "All That the Rain Promises, and More," by David Arora, a recognized expert in the field. This very readable, engaging guide is compact enough to carry with you, and it contains enough detailed illustrations to be of actual help.

If you really get into pursuing the wild fungi, you'll want to own Arora's more extensive tome, "Mushrooms Demystified."

[sally]

Hi CastIron,

That looks like a great book. Great photos, and it is nice to read. I'll buy it. Thanks for the advice!

[nhlivefreeordie]

I have been hunting and eating mushrooms for many years. For the life of me I don't know how people either get sick or die from eating wild mushrooms. ID is critical, and there are many poisonous look a likes for some very good eating mushrooms. You MUST be sure of your ID before eating.
Start with a couple of good books, Audubon makes a good book for ID, and there are several others as well. After you feel better versed, then try to find a local mushroom guru, who will teach you the ropes, not only for ID purposes, but actual hunting as well, it is somewhat like fishing, there are reasons fish stay in only 10% of a body of water, same with mushrooms, they have specific requirements to grow. That is one reason no one has been able to successfully grow Morels, Chanterelles, or some of the other sought after species. A local guru will cut down significantly on your learning curve as to WHERE to find a specific mushroom.
Do your spore prints until you get comfortable enough to trust your eye. Also don't get overwhelmed with trying to learn all of the edible mushrooms in your area, I try to add one or two new ones to my arsenal every year, but anymore, I have gone to identifying non edible mushrooms, because I know the edible shrooms for this area.
We are coming to the end of our Chanterelle and Black Trumpet season here, two nights in the low 40s put an end to a fantastic year.
Here are a couple pics of last weeks hunting...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v86/dj88ryr/Mushrooming/DSCN0785.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v86/dj88ryr/Mushrooming/DSCN0781.jpg

Boletes and Grifola will be here soon, and the gathering will continue.

[nhlivefreeordie]

Oh, by the way, I have a mushroom board that I have had up for about a year, with some very knowledgable folks who are always willing to help new comers to the fold...
www.pashroomin.proboards.com

Although this board is geared to mushrooms in PA, a lot of the info can be transferred to your area.