While the floors were being finished this past weekend, Josh and Erik had a chance to hit the woods and forage for some local mushrooms. While a variety of mushrooms is easy to come by — if you go to Whole Foods, there is an entire section you can choose from, shiitake, maitake, reishi, cremini, chanterelles, etc. — they are nothing like what you find in the wild.



The bright orange mushroom is called Chicken of the Woods, and it is aptly named as it has a chicken-like flavor and texture.  These mushrooms are often found August through October but can be spotted as early as June.

The Puffball mushroom can be found during late summer and early fall as well. It can be as big as your head, and has a tofu-like flavor once it is cooked, making it ideal to soak up other flavors in a dish.



The Hen of the Woods is a white mushroom that looks like a flower straight out of a Georgia O’Keeffe painting. It has incredible flavor, spanning from meaty to nutty to smoky at times, and a firm texture that makes it easy to use in a variety of dishes.  These mushrooms are found right now, as summer wraps up and cold fall nights settle in.

We’re in the process of combining and preserving these mushrooms so we can use them throughout the winter in various dishes. Look out for them on your next trip to The Catbird Seat.