I thought that this story about mushrooms in New York City might interest some followers of this thread: Nature Adds Water, and Everything Mushrooms .
Hi folks! I'm visiting Switzerland in early April, and would probably do some light hiking and mushroom hunting, since most people I know there would be working. That time of the year would be quite favourable for morels. Would anyone be so kind as to share a couple of morel spots? I'd be glad to share the spoils, I'm really only in it for the hunt
Ooooooooooooooooh dear - getting Swiss to share their morelity ain't going to be easy. Good 'coins'/spots get passed down from generation to generation, and are more closely guarded than any Swiss bank account, I can assure you. Bonne chance.
Which part of CH will you be in btw? In April you might also be lucky and find St Georges mushrooms. At least if you find a 'circle' you can fill a couple of baskets in a jiffy, and they are delicious. We actually have a bid circle in our field, but they ususally come out later, second week of May, due to higher altitude.
BTW2 - do you know how much locally picked morilles sell for? Those found in supermarkets are usually from Turkey, Pakistan, etc, are full of sand often and even in some cases lead pellets- and just don't have the taste.
well, i dun blame them, when morelity happens only once a year for a couple of months
Well, i'm on holiday, so I guess I'm pretty mobile. As far as I know, morels occur more frequently in deciduous forests and orchards, not too sure where one might find them in CH. Thanks for the tip though, regarding St George's shrooms, i'll keep them in mind
I've only seen fresh morels once at a street market, and I do recall them being more expensive than Bolets (CHF4-5/100g at Manor; CHF6-8/100g at a street market).
Around here they definitely grow in mixed forest, but their favourite area is around what we call 'sapins blancs' - will have to check but I think 'epicea', eg those spruce type trees but with the flat leaves with the silver/white undersides and also ash trees, which are plentiful here too. I grew up here in the Neuchatel Jura with a dad who was a mushroom fanatic - I could take you if you let me blindfold you and make sure you do not have any kind of GPS - or I'd have to kill you afterwards. However, with morels there is never ever any guarantees of success, ever.
Would i have to ride in the trunk? would you at least not kill me anyway after? oh nevemind, i'll chance it! :P Could I pm you again a week or so before I arrive?
Granny O will be gentle with you, lol. As long as we are not away in the UK at that time- and as long as you realise it is never guaranteed. Morilles are very very elusive.
BTW, anybody near Les Haudères, Valais? I know a superb 'coin' for St Georges mushrooms there, I found by chance on a walk but can't get to most years. I picked several kilos there, but they come out mid June, due to altitude. If you are near there, gladly tell you the spot. It is one of the tastiest and best wild mushrooms around. (If you don't live near there, I've got young friends who have a fab B&B just down the road, between Evolène and Les Haudères. It's called La Grande Peur dans la Montagne, and is run by Madeleine and Patrick - great fun and M speaks excellent English). Old chalet in the most beautiful, wild setting. TRain to Sion then up by bus, that will drop you right outside at the hamlet of La Tour).
i've gone out to look for mushrooms and returned empty handed more times than I can recall, so no expectations there Thanks so much for offering, I'll be in touch again
What's out there at the moment? Anything? Are chanterelles expected soon?
Nothing at the mo around here- too early, or too late!
I'm swinging by again in July, I'm hoping for a little bit of rain and some sunshine
I'm taking up this suggestion *fingers crossed*
My neighbour got a basketful of very fresh 'bolets' or ceps as called in Western France, porcini in Italy - so will be a-hunting on Friday. Will report back He also had many 'pied de mouton' and 'écailleux'.
Gathered about 1 kg of very fresh 'bolets' (ceps/porcini) today - in the dryer as we speak. Also found a lot of 'millers' (meuniers in French) and they are cooking now with a dash of pepper, a few herbs and white wine. Risotto tomorrow. Plenty around - so get your baskets and mushroom knife ready. But be safe - never pick unless you are 100% sure, or get them checked (all Communes have an official checker - ask at your Bureau Communal).
Another big basketful of bolets today- and another smaller basket of 'millers'. Always keep millers separate as they are very delicate and would break up if sharing a basket with their big fat cousins.
Anybody else been mushroom a-hunting lately?
Not so many mushrooms around this year, but we were happy to find the first black trumpets yesterday. They are extremely difficult to find, but luckily we have a regular spot Haven't found any porcinis this year, hope it'll still happen...
Not been in the garden or the field much lately, as the weather has been dreadfull. Sun is shining, although it is cold (5Cish) and had a nice surprise- the St Georges mushrooms at the top of our field are out - there must be several kilos and more. BTW did you know that their French name, as used by the Normans = Mousserons, is the root for the English 'mushroom'?
Just looked them up in my old dad's mushroom book - and low and behold, he has written very clear instructions as to where they are to be found around here. If anyone lives either in Valais or in the Neuchatel Jura (near the village of Buttes) I am happy to divulge as I have far too many to cope with!! Ploymi or Taveau? First come, first serve - my dad would kill me if I knew I was going to share
The other surprise is that I found a very clear badger path in the field and lots of badger grubbing holes I know there is a badger sett in the woods behind, but had never seen clear signs in our field. (I used to be a badger 'specialist' in the UK and worked with our local wildlife hospital - often with RTA badgers- so it was a lovely surprise. Must go and watch the sett as soon as the weather improves. Anybody joining me - the cubs hopefully will be above ground by then).
Just about to go and pick a huge basketful - let's hope the badgers have not eaten them whilst we were in Paris. I will cook some to eat with our lamb chops, and cook some more to have in a croustade tomorrow (puff pastry, line with ham, cover with creamy/herby mushrooms and cream and close as a pocket - brush with egg and milk, decorate with a few pastry mushrooms and into oven - one of my mum's favourite recipe). Then cook some more for the freezer and dry some too. Miam.
You want some? Come along
As soon as the sun comes out - I'll be out a bit further afield to look for 'morilles' (Morcheln, spugnoni) - there are plenty around this year apparently- thanks to the rain ...
Wow - never expected THAT! The small mushrooms I left on Monday are now huge, some weighing over 200gr - I've picked loads and I've hardly gathered a 10th if that. Happy to share if someone wants some - will pick bowl fulls for the local elderly tomorrow.
Pity you are so far from me, as I'd take you up on it in a heartbeat!
Only one hour from Bern and the sun is coming out
St Georges may be less well known than ceps , girolles or morels , but they definitely rank amongst the finest wild mushrooms, with a firm texture, appealing mealy smell and distinctive flavour, reminiscent of soil and wood smoke. In France it’s known as le vrai mouserron , “the true mushroom”.