Mushrooms in the "Telegraph"

[solus]

A couple of articles from the "Daily Telegraph" - today about a "River Cottage" foray in Dorset:
River Cottage: Delicacies - and dangers - in Dorset's woods - Telegraph

and one from yesterday warning of the dangers of the unknown...
Foragers should beware unknown mushrooms, warns fungi expert - Telegraph

Seems to be quite a well-balanced article to me - but then I only eat mushrooms I buy at the Farm Shop or supermarket!

[sarah64]

Thanks Solus, they were very interesting articles.
New series of River Cottage at 8pm tonight by the way, channel4.

[fairplay]

Did anyone hear the reporter say "It looks edible" when shown the Blusher ?
I thought it a very silly video, whilst the article by Dr Richard Fortey is something every fungi enthusiast should read and remember.

Neil.

[mushruman]

Originally Posted by fairplay

Did anyone hear the reporter say "It looks edible" when shown the Blusher ?
I thought it a very silly video, whilst the article by Dr Richard Fortey is something every fungi enthusiast should read and remember.

Neil.

But, the blusher (Amanita rubescens) is edible.

[Stewy]

Originally Posted by mushruman♠

But, the blusher (Amanita rubescens) is edible.

Yeah, but what Neil is getting at is the "It looks edible" point!!! Well that's what I'm thinking.

Just because a mushroom "looks edible" doesn't mean that it is now does it?

[tcvarlh]

I went out mushroom collecting with an older and wiser head about 10 years ago. did a load of picking of a 'looks inedible' mushroom, but was assured 'they're right tasty'
They were, BUT the older and wiser head's wife had used a iron frypan to cook 'em. result : black tongue, black lips, black teeth. Never been so panic stricken in my life. We were a least 22 hours from anywhere. And I still can't remember the name.
Looking either edible or not doesn't cut it with me, not since!
PS
has anyone tried 'witch's eggs' (Phallus impudicus -receptaculum) they are supposed to be tasty when raw and very tasty when boiled in vinegarwater ??? Perturbing looking items!

[cybershot]

Originally Posted by tcvarlh

--(edited)--
has anyone tried 'witch's eggs' (Phallus impudicus -receptaculum) they are supposed to be tasty when raw and very tasty when boiled in vinegarwater ??? Perturbing looking items!

The best way I can describe it is somewhere between a radish and a cauliflower stalk but a much more pleasing nutty texture. And of course, at this stage, there is absolutely no hint of the eventual foul smell of the spore mass. You only eat the central hard spike, which is easily separated from the gelatinous-like gleba, and is the part that develops into the stem of the fungus, but the probability of collecting enough of it to chop up to go in a salad makes it hardly worth while unfortunately.

David

[fairplay]

Agree with everything you say there David, but I might add it's not worth the hassle of demonstrating to the audience coz of the gunge you have have to wipe off your hands afterwards.

Neil.