All About Mushrooms – Foraging with Alan Muskat, The Mushroom Man
While on our hunt, we found many different types of mushrooms; most edible and the majority forgettable in that they may not make you sick, but they just didn’t taste good. We discovered mushrooms that looked like opaque jelly, others that were a beautiful blue, some that lactated when cut, and others that turned blue when bruised. Some were spongy and others firm. It was like observing fish on a coral reef; each with colors and properties unique to themselves. Some were beautiful, some colorful, some tasty, and others unpleasant. And, like a coral reef, we were cautious of the potential dangers.
We worked our way through the forest floor until we struck the mother load of Chanterelles on a runoff slope in Pisgah National Forest. Chanterelles are prized for their almond-like aroma and meaty texture. They cost upwards of $30.00 per pound (if they are even available) at the market. Most are orange in color and a conical flower in shape, with no gills. Those that have gills are called faux Chanterelles and are best left alone. Some are red in color and are prized for their flavor and texture.
As we began to harvest the mushrooms, Alan told us how each mushroom is a blossom of the fungus that extends under the soil. That fungus can stretch great distances (in Oregon, a fungus three miles wide has been found) through the Mycelium. These tiny fibers, 1/7th the size of a hair, can wrap and extend for miles and provide information to all living plant life in the forest.
A morning of mushroom foraging yielded a few pounds of Chanterelles and a ton of mushroom knowledge. If you are interested in learning more about mushrooms, be sure to refer to Alan Muskat’s website and if you’re in Asheville, take part in one of his mushroom classes or foraging adventures. If you’re interested in eating mushrooms, then take a trip to Asheville and join Chef Dissen at his restaurant, The Market Place.
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Great post Gwen! That was a fun morning foraging and learning more about the different varieties of fungus that thrive here in Western North Carolina while hanging out with Alan Muskat a.k.a. The Mushroom Man.
Hi William,
Thank you for making the connection and joining us. We had a great day and informative time with Alan.
Gwen
It wouldn’t be the weekend without an early Saturday morning trip to Alan’s booth at the ASHEVILLE CITY MARKET!
Hi Jimmy,
I am sure that Alan brings some interesting finds with him, particularly with this wet summer. Thank you for your comment.
Gwen
Excellent post. I will be spending more time reviewing you blog!
Hi Steve,
Thank you so much for stopping by!
Gwen
What an exciting adventure and a load of chanterelles to take home!
Hi Christine,
Yes, it was and Alan is so much fun to forage with.
I hope you are doing well!
Gwen
Oh my does this look fascinating! Being in Europe where mushroom foraging is much more common, I do understand the passion… and have heard people like my husband talk about the different types. We are lucky to find more varieties here at our markets and each one has such a different flavor. This must have been a fun and exciting experience for you guys…thanks for sharing!
Hi Jamie,
I was surprised at how many types of mushrooms we saw that morning. It is fascinating to scour the forest floor looking for them and you certainly need to have an expert with you before picking and trying any types other than the Chanterelles (which were quite obvious).
I hope we can do another trip with Alan during another season to compare our finds.
Gwen
What a wonderful post! I have memories of foraging for mushrooms with my parents many, many years ago… but haven’t been since. We have deadly mushrooms here in Australia, so one has to be very careful. I liked seeing the mushroom identification vans in Budapest at the open air markets! Love your blog, I shall visit again.
Hi Lizzy,
Thank you for your comment and I hope you do visit again.
It is a bit scary to pick a wild mushroom and think about eating it, so professional help is always advised. There are so many types of mushrooms that look similar to others, so it’s best to be sure. Alan had a book with him and this really is something that’s best left to experts.
Gwen
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Thanks great post! I wouldnt normally read an article on mushrooms but last week myself and my wife were surprised to see a mushroom in our garden that looked as if it belonged in a science fiction movie. It was around 6 inches high with a crown diameter of around 7-8 inches. Also it must have grown to this size in a matter of weeks as we had not noticed it when it was smaller. Is this normal?? It appears from your article that most mushrooms are not poisonous…Anyway we told the children not to touch it and within a few days my wife saw a squirrel take the top off and run off with it! All we are left with is the stalk.
Happy mushroom hunting!
do you offer classes? where and the cost? there is four in our group. we live in northern California.willing travel some distance. thank you
Hi Gina,
Alan is located in Asheville, NC. You can visit his website here for more information on his foraging classes.
Gwen
We have an overabundance of these mushrooms and I cannot identify them. My yard is rich with wild edibles and I am curious to of theae are or not. I can send a photo via email.
Hi Melissa,
We wrote about Alan, who is the mushroom expert. If you want to contact him directly and ask about particular mushrooms, you can reach him through his website
Gwen