My First Morel Hunt

One of the very first morels I spotted

It has been at least 2 years since I went on a mushroom hunt. The job at the school has been a social life killer.  I often felt too tired to go on a group foray. Lately my energy level must has gone up with all the hiking I have been doing. I am also feeling more relaxed with school operation in general. Last week I spontaneously decided to respond to a fellow MSSF's member's invitation to join a group morel hunt up north (Sorry, I am not going to share the location). We decided to leave at 5:30 am on Saturday morning for an early start, spend a night camping out, then continue hunting on Sunday.

My first morel jackpot

I had a pretty good idea what morels look like, but after a two year hiatus, I needed some time to get my mushroom hunting eyes back. The couple I hitched a ride with were super sweet. They pointed out several morels, so I could get a really good image in my head. Pretty soon I was spotting them all over the place between the pine needles. We were all walking, looking down, bending down, and cutting a lot. I made sure to shove morels to Kelsey's nose and kept telling her to go look for them. On the second, she was walking around sniffing next to tree trunks and the ground. I actually found a good size flattened morel in front of her paw!

Kelsey snoozing with a big bag of morels above her

For dinner we sauteed some fresh morels in butter in addition to some awesome home made spicy chili and fresh tortilla. For second dinner (we were all hobbits for one night), we had pasta in habanero pasta sauce. Just by coincidence, we were all hot heads! Kelsey had a lot of fun hanging out with the other dogs in the group.  At the end of our grand morel hunt, we have picked at least 10 pounds of morels, and we each got a share.  More photos from are on the Wild Mushrooms photo album. I can't wait to do it again!

Another big find

MSSF Annual Summer Picnic

Lego Amanita Muscaria

I have been a member of MSSF (Mycological Society of San Francisco) for at least 5 years now, and this year I decided to attend the annual picnic for the first time at Joaquin Miller Park in Oakland.

Apple Upside Down Cake I baked this morning

I got up just in time to bake a couple Apple Upside Down Cake for the picnic. Mushroom people love food and homemade organic dishes.  This beautiful honey comb came from someone's backyard beehive. I look forward to keep some bees in the future.

Honey comb from an urban beekeeper. Wow!

I chatted with Don, who made the pasta with morel mushrooms. He showed me a bunch of pictures of the giant morels he gathered this year.  He's been a mushroom hunter for 25 years! Mushrooms talk to him and guide him to their locations. He said it took 10 years for  him to acquire that 6th sense. I guess I have 5 more years to go. Can't wait!

Curried Cauliflower Flatbread and Pasta with Morel Mushrooms

Carol brought her signature deviled eggs with morels on top!  Judging by the feast today, I can't imagine what MSSF monthly culinary group dinner is like. I shall attend my first culinary group dinner this upcoming season as well.

Deviled Eggs with Morel Mushrooms!

MSSF Table at Summer Gardening Fair

Lisa, David, and Norm (left to right behind the table) of Mycological Society

I left the farm today to spend some time with MSSF (Mycological Society of San Francisco) at Summer Gardening Fair next to San Francisco Botanical Garden. I have been a member of MSSF for the last 5 years.  It all started with a visit to its annual Fungus Fair 5 years ago.  Over the years, I have volunteered in a few events to talk to the public about the society and mushrooms.

Unlike the fungus fair, which is held in December during mushroom season, we didn't have a display of fresh wild mushrooms today.  We used several colorful posters and some dried mushrooms.  What made up for lack mushrooms was Lisa's Kombucha tea tasting.  I tried Kombucha tea for the very first time earlier this year from Lisa's brew.  I thought it was good, so I bought a bottle of commercial Kombucha tea from a store, and it was horrible!    I learned that not all Kombucha tea is created equally.

I have tried a few other people's home brew, but Lisa's Kombucha remains number one on my list. It's not likely I'll be making my own Kombucha tea anytime soon but I will definitely buy from Lisa when she launches her Kombucha line. Look at the flavors she has - Gingery Aid, Strawberry Bliss, Key Lime Pie, and Orange Julius. She had a few other developmental flavors for us to try, and they were amazingly good.

Lisa gave us a few bottles (full soda size bottles!) of sample when the fair ended at 3 PM.  I got one Ginger Aid and one Orange Julius. Instead of drinking coffee,  I am going to be sipping on Lisa's Kombucha tea all day tomorrow in Master Ken's class.  Can't wait! 

Master Ken (center w/beard) gives Lisa some feedback on Kombucha flavors while Lisa's husband, Joe, explains to people about Kombucha.