Meet the Mushrooms

MEET THE MUSHR

Por·ta·bel·la (pawr-tuh-bel-uh):

a mature, very large crimini mushroom, Agaricus bisporus. Portabellas are mature agaricus mushrooms where the veil has opened and the gills are exposed.

Cri·mi·ni (kruh-mee-nee):

an edible, dark-brown mushroom with a rounded cap, Agaricus bisporus.

The crimini is an immature portabella, picked before the gills are exposed. It is known by many names including baby portabella, baby bella, Roman mushroom, Italian mushroom and brown mushroom.

Royal Trumpet (roi-uhl truhm-pit):

has a trumpet shaped tan cap and thick, white stem. Also called King Oyster, Pleurotus eryngii.

The Royal Trumpet mushroom is the largest species of the oyster mushroom.

Beech (beech):

crisp, firm fleshed fungi with short stems, Hypsizygus tessulatus.

In nature, the beech mushroom is found high up in the yokes of trees. It is cultivated on jars filled with corn cobs.

ROOMS

Maitake (my-tah-key):

rippling, tan shaped mushroom without caps, also called Hen of the Woods, Grifola frondosa.

In Japanese, “maitake” translates to dancing mushroom. In other parts of the world this mushroom that grows at the base of trees in the wild is called Hen-of-the-Woods, Ram’s Head and Sheep’s Head.

Oyster (oi-ster):

an edible fungus having an oyster-shaped cap, Pleurotus ostreatus.

The yellow oyster is described as delicate like a daffodil and could be used as a centerpiece.

Pom Pom (pom-pom):

white sphere fungi with soft spines and no stem, Hericium erinaceus

Shiitake (shee-ee-tah-key):

a large, meaty, black or dark brown mushroom, Other common names are Golden Oak, Black Forest and Oakwood, Lentinus edodes.

As both food and medicine, the shiitake has been revered in Asia for thousands of years. It grows in the Far East on fallen broadleaf trees, include the “shii” tree in Japan.

Button (buht-n):