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Forage To Table – Mushrooms andForage To Table – Mushrooms andOther Edible Gems

Forage To Table

• Scott McCurdy, Food Fanatic Chef/CorporateChef, US Foods

• Amateur Forager

• Obsessive Mushroom Hunter• Obsessive Mushroom Hunter

• Only really interested in culinary applications(i.e. good tasting!)

Forage To Table

“Embracing A Sustainable Future”

Important Industry Trends

• Sustainability

• Farm to Table (field to table)

• Organic

• Non GMO• Non GMO

• Local

• Food with a story to tell

• Very seasonal, freshness, Wild Food is a Treat!

Wild Edible Plants

• ALL cultivated plants, were originally wild.

• Changes have been made to separate thecultivar from its wild relative (i.e. to increasecultivar from its wild relative (i.e. to increasesize, yield, texture), often result of loss in flavor.

Wild Edible Plants- Some Favorites

• Watercress

• Wild Mustard Seed

• Asparagus

• Gooseberry

• Raspberry

• Strawberry

• Sorrel

• Nettle

• Prickly Pear

• Tubers

• Rose

• Currant

Wild Watercress

Wild Asparagus

Thlaspi Arvense

Wild Berries and Fruits

• Prickly Pear

• Crab Apple• Crab Apple

• Strawberries, Blueberries, Raspberries,Gooseberries

Crab Apple

Wild Raspberry

Prickly Pear

Strawberry

Wild Mushrooms• over 10,000 species of mushrooms in NA

approximately 25% edible, of which maybe 4%are tasty.

• The best wild mushrooms (i.e. Porcini,• The best wild mushrooms (i.e. Porcini,chanterelle) difficult/impossible to cultivate.

• Luxury ingredient that customers love, helpschefs to create signature dishes in highdemand

Boletus Edulis (Porcini, Cep)

Boletus Edulis (Porcini, Cep)

Chanterelle

Chanterelle

Morel

Other Varieties•Puff Ball

Other Varieties•Hawk Wing

Other Varieties•Saffron Milk Cap

Other Varieties•Amanita Muscaria(Fly Agaric) – Don’t Eat!

Foragers Do’s and Don’ts

• Don’t eat anything you are not absolutely sure of! –learn, study, get to know local experts

• Don’t eat anything that is not from a clean source

• Do learn about the non-edible plants that grow along• Do learn about the non-edible plants that grow alongwith edible ones in your area

• Learn about look-a-likes (i.e. lily of the valley andramps)

Who’s Serving Foraged Food

• Rene Redzepi, Noma

• Daniel, NYC – forager Tama Matsuoka Wong

• Forage Restaurant- SLC – Bowman Brown• Forage Restaurant- SLC – Bowman Brown

• Atera – NYC – Matthew Lightner

Foraging Resources/Articles• http://www.jamesbeard.org/blog/wild-food-

chefs-hunt-native-ingredients

• http://www.businessinsider.com/field-to-table-food-movement-and-foraging-2014-table-food-movement-and-foraging-2014-6?op=1

• www.americanmushrooms.com

• www.foragingguide.com