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About The daily Astorian. (Astoria, Or.) 1961-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 19, 2017)
OCTOBER 19, 2017 // 9 CLOSE TO HOME Stalking the wild mushroom By DAVID CAMPICHE FOR COAST WEEKEND W ay back when, reading “The Lord of the Rings” to my three children, I came across an early chapter when the four hobbits, on the run from the diabolical ring wraiths, stumble upon a mush- room patch, abscond with the lovely morsels, and quick- ly prepare a rabbit stew with their bounty. No matter that evil was on their trail, their stomachs ruled the day. I suppose, if you’re about to be subjugated by evil forces, you might as well get a lick in and eat a batch of the edible fungi fi rst. It may just be your last divine moment. Please, I’m not suggesting that if you are outrunning a freak wave, you should dally and prepare such a meal, but you might reach down, grab a few fungi on the run and prepare them later, while sitting atop a tall dry hill — assuming, of course, you have brought along butter and cream and maybe a splash of Armagnac. Varieties galore Maybe those mushrooms were Agaricus campestris, the “meadow mushroom.” Maybe fairy ring mush- rooms. Maybe others — man on horseback, deliciosos, porcini. There are dozens if not hundreds of varieties scattered across North America (and The Shire). There are hundreds in Pacifi c and Clatsop counties. The meadow mushroom — 10 centimeters wide, convex, white to creamy in color with a dry smooth cap — loves cow fi elds and smooth grassy yards. Picked young before they turn dark brown under the cap, they sauté into delectables perfect in stews, omelets, pastas and, well, darn near any earthly concoction that enters a sauté pan. Those young hobbits were smart creatures, in love with fi ne country cuisine. Here, in Pacifi c and Clatsop counties, a plethora of the stemmed fungi dominates forests, fi elds and backyards during the fall. They love a moist warm climate, normally September, October and early November. Recent bouts of drought have post- poned this sprouting pattern, but hope lives in the minds and hearts of truly addicted mycologists. Continued on Page 22 PHOTO BY LAURIE ANDERSON Though growers have met with some success in culti- vating oyster mushrooms, it remains a celebrated fi nd to stumble upon them in the wild.
