Mushroom hunters in the forest

Outdoor Recreation

Know well where the mushrooms grow. Be sure about the distances to walk, the terrain and the time necessary. Describing your offer, advise about what to wear – rubber boots or good walking boots, raincoats, caps, etc. You may have some forest gear in stock for rent, as your guests coming from the city simply might not have appropriate clothing. Teach your guests the basic principles of orienteering in the forest, in case your group accidentally scatters and somebody has to find the way back. Exchange phone numbers to prevent the cases of getting lost. Tell about varieties of mushrooms.

Mushrooms are different!

Educational

Before going to forest, instruct your guests about mushroom varieties. Show pictures and descriptions, tell about which poisonous mushrooms are easy to take for edible ones. Tell about typical features of poisonous mushrooms and what is the danger. Poisonous mushrooms look very attractive. There is a whole world of mushrooms which are not poisonous, but are not used for food. Still they are attractive and interesting – they are neither plants, nor animals: “Mushrooms are not plants: they are fungus. They eat organic matter, they do not photosynthesize like plants do.” (Wikipedia).

King bolete, also known as the cap or penny bun

Culinary

Mushroom sauce is the most popular dish. Mushroom soups are sometimes made or meet is stuffed with mushrooms. King bolete, also known as the cap or penny bun (Boletus Edulis) and chanterelles (Cantharellus Cibarius) are regarded in Latvia as the most valuable. They take less time – easy to clean, do not need to be boiled before frying in sauce. They also look very attractive.

Sorting mushrooms

Mushroom sauce

Bacon - 100g

Mushrooms - 200g

Plain flour - 10-20g

Liquid - as required

Salt, onion - to taste

Various mushrooms can be used in the sauce - saffron milk caps, boletes, chanterelles, etc. The mushrooms, bacon and onion are chopped into small cubes and fried, mixing in the flour. Continue frying, then add liquid and cook. Finally, add the sour cream. Mushroom sauce can be served with meat or vegetarian dishes. (Source: http://humanform.info/mushrooms/mushroom.htm Preparation and Recipes translated from the Latvian classic text:
Latvian and Modern Kitchen: Advice for Hostesses on Correct Food Preparation/ H.Stabulnieks-Birzina, A.Švagers - Riga, Grinbergs, 1939)

Mushrooms ready for cooking

Practical

Activities like preparing mushrooms for winter can be offered for guests. For this, kitchen should be well equipped, supplies prepared (kitchen utensils, containers for mushrooms, all ingredients, etc.). Your recipe and the kitchen process have to be well elaborated. Make labels for the containers of pickled mushrooms your guests will take with them to bear your establishment’s identity – the logo (if you have one), the name of the house and your contact details.