Comments on: Chicken of the Woods Fritters with Wild Garlic and Walnut Mayo

By: Liam

Liam — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 01:55:35 +0000

There is no need to fear picking your own chicken of the woods. There isn’t any other shelf mushrooms that look like it. Once you get comfortable identifying chicken of the woods try moving to oysters and morels for they are also easily identifiable.

Maybe you could take a few hikes with a mushroom expert so you can become more comfortable identifying edible mushrooms.

By: TOP TENS ROUNDUP! « Food*Nerd

TOP TENS ROUNDUP! « Food*Nerd — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 00:51:58 +0000

[...] 9. Chicken of the Woods with Walnut Mayo by Eat like A Girl [...]

By: June Top Tens: Blog Envy + Mushroom and Red Cabbage Momos « One Of A Grind

June Top Tens: Blog Envy + Mushroom and Red Cabbage Momos « One Of A Grind — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 17:32:47 +0000

[...] 9. Chicken of the Woods with Walnut Mayo by Eat like A Girl [...]

By: Marilyn Shaw

Marilyn Shaw — Sun, 01 Mar 2009 02:23:30 +0000

My! British mycophobia seems to be running rampant. I question the figure of 300 deaths in France per year. It is true that there are many more fatalities in Europe than in the U.S., but I doubt there are that many. In the U.S. the mortality rate for the last 100+ years has averaged fewer than 1.5 per year. There are very few deadly mushrooms, contrary to popular belief. However, you need to be sure of what you’re doing before eating anything. IMPORTANT: There are NO reliable rules for testing the edibility of mushrooms. You must know the characteristics of each mushroom you eat. Do not go by photographs. Many mushrooms, some edible, some not, look alike to the novice.

If you start out with one or two species that are easy to identify and not easily confused with anything poisonous and stick with those you should be OK. Each year you might learn one or two more. Always cook them thoroughly, eat only a small amount, and save one whole, unwashed specimen in waxed paper (not plastic) in your refrigerator for 24 hours in case an identification is needed. It is also wise, as noted, to avoid combining alcohol with wild mushrooms.

I might add that you are much more likely to die from eating green plants collected in the wild. Wand lily (death camus) can be confused with the leaves of wild garlic or wild onion. The ferny leaves of hemlock can be confused with wild carrots. Either of these will kill you much faster than any mushroom.

I am a consultant in wild mushroom poisonings. Since I’m on call 24 / 365, I always ask that you try mushrooms for breakfast, instead of for dinner. That way, if you have made a mistake, your friendly mycology consultant gets the call in the middle of the day, rather than the middle of the night. Unless you’ve made a really bad mistake.

If you want to learn about mushrooms contact the British Mycological Society for information about opportunities for classes.

By: Andy Overall

Andy Overall — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 15:44:29 +0000

Looks scrumptous. Actually there was a glut of Chicken Of The Woods this year, especially during May and funny enough on Hampstead Heath as well as many other areas across England. Not all years are like this though, in fact 2008 was probably the best I’ve seen it for C.O.W. (excuse my abbrev.) Anyhow you might be interested in my walks and workshops which I v’e been running now for 12 years. You can check them out at http://www.fungitobewith.org. its the best way to learn about fungi or at least to get to the point where you feel confident enough to try a few. Check it out.

By: Niamh

Niamh — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 17:09:17 +0000

Oh wow – now that’s something you wouldn’t expect! It’s fraught with danger, the fungi path. I would love to go foraging in the Autumn. Perhaps we should arrange a bloggers trip?

By: Jeanne

Jeanne — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 14:08:32 +0000

I’m with you on the mushrooms. Far too many horror stories abound, and I’d want mine checked out by an expert first!! One of my mom’s ex colleagues was on a camping trip (this was back in South Africa) and they ate mushrooms that they had foraged. They drank wine and talked late into the night… and soon all the adults were being violently ill. Their first thought was the mushrooms – but the three kids were fine, so they dismissed that. When they got back to civilisation and medical attention, they discovered that some types of mushroom are fine – until you add alcohol to the mix, which is why the kids had been fine but not the adults. See – there’s just far too much I don’t know!!

If you find a good foraging course around London, do let me know – I’d join you!

By: Niamh

Niamh — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 22:07:28 +0000

Awh, well, if you can forage you can find these anywhere, I’m just too scared!

By: Sylvie

Sylvie — Fri, 30 May 2008 10:00:04 +0000

I can only say it again. I’m jealous that you can go shopping at Borough Market and find gems like this.

By: Niamh

Niamh — Thu, 29 May 2008 16:55:49 +0000

Thanks George – I know what you mean – they can be very bitter. The puree was super smooth though, so it wasn’t an issue. I like the idea of making the mayo with the walnut oil!

Becky – thanks and you know, I may be going to Bristol soon to visit a friend! I’ll let you know.

By: Becky

Becky — Thu, 29 May 2008 16:15:34 +0000

These look delicious , If you are ever in the South West will happily take you foraging for wild mushrooms . Battering process works well with other bracket fungi around now Dryad’s Saddle http://girlinterruptedeating.wordpress.com/2006/10/16/sunday-forage/

By: Kitchen Goddess

Kitchen Goddess — Thu, 29 May 2008 16:14:03 +0000

That looks so good Niamh.
Know what you mean about the mushrooms, even though I’ve read the books and gone foraging with a guide I wouldn’t feel happy to go on my own.
I hate finding chunks of walnut in savoury foods though, so think I’d replace them with a drizzle of walnut oil instead.