chef

Just wondering - the small ones look strikingly similar to hon shimeji, your thoughts on the larger ones?maybe just grown ups?

Will check spore print when I return home from work this evening...they do appear to be L. ochropurpurea. Just happened upon the stand of mushrooms, first time I have ever seen them on our property. Following a white spore print check I will proceed with the taste test!

Quick hike around the property today...making the most of my days off. A few edibles: first chants of the season, some oysters and a few puffers. Loads of well-past boletes - one probably 7lbs (the bad picture) and a few I have some questions about. Have yet to properly identify the purple-gilled guys in the mixing bowl - any ideas?

The chicks in question are growing on a fallen log that is covered with moss, thus appearing terrestrial. It was a quick snap and GPS log - the light was in fact washing out and I was quite an uphill hike back home. I will get back out in the next few hours and post some updated pictures. My ID came from quick glance, she is in a very productive area for (white spore) chickens. I will snap some polypore shots as well. In regards to the chants - I harvested nearly 30lbs over a two week period from 3 small spots. I happened upon them on horseback with nothing to carry them out with, by the time I made it back I had specimens nearing the size of my hand - unfortunately quite buggy as well. My second round were more "restaurant proper" in size and bug-less-ness...needless to say but they are buried somewhere inside that quiche. Lastly...I am well aware of our truffle-inoculating friends at Garland! We have a vineyard on site, not sure if I could handle growing truffle oaks. They also inoculate magnatum truffles but they are a bit more expensive. I am impatient...5 years...? seems like a lifetime to wait for truffles! Would be nice though.

Chicken of the woods They should be ready in a few weeks - we still need some rain but I am hopeful

I stumbled upon this site a few days ago and the first topic that sparked my interest was that of the Boletus app. For what it is and what it could be - I believe it is a must-have-no-brainer for 1.99. It does prove itself handy for ID purposes and ease of use. Of course I have stumped it a few times but it definitely seems promising with more input and future updates. That being said: I have been mapping out my 100+ acre farm, zig-zagging back and forth tagging locations on the ever-useful GPS map function and happened to stumble across a fallen log with 10+ young chicks in situ. The oysters have been prevalent as well and mapping out my property has turned up a few new spots which I find quite exciting. Also came across some well past due hedgehogs in a new location for me. I apologize for my nerd-ness but being a chef and knowing the value of what my property produces literally just past my front steps...its awesome! Attached are a few more pictures from right outside my door over the past couple of months: Baby Chicks Baby Chants Harvest Size Bounty 6-8-10-inch oysters! ...and last but not least, the dish of the night from my Supper-Club: poke sallet and chanterelle quiche enjoy - Chef

Hello all, I just joined and wanted to introduce myself. Here are a few pictures from today's foray: some squarrosoides, chicken of the woods, and the infamous jacks that are all over right now. We need some more rain! If the maitakes become as prevalent as the chanterelles were this will be a great first year in North Carolina. I look forward to hearing from you all, especially those near my area. chef