Mushroom enthusiasts and chefs around the globe are excited for the start of fall. One Oregon newsfeed even announcing, "There's Gold in the Hills!" The author was referring to edible golden colored mushrooms.
It's true. The fall weather with the cool nights and mild days is not just about pumpkins. Fall is also the peak season for Chanterelle mushroom foraging, cooking, and of course eating.
Chanterelle mushrooms are a variety of wild edible mushrooms. They have a golden hue with a beautiful funnel-shaped structure. The meaty mushrooms are considered versatile and delicious. Some say they are almost buttery in flavor. Chanterelles can be found in North America, Europe, Australia and Asia. They tend to grow in the shadows of fir trees.
Fall mushroom foragers, however, should beware! In true fall fashion, there is a poisonous and spooky lookalike mushroom that lurks about some of the forests. The Jack-O-Lantern mushroom (Omphalotus olearius) mimics the golden mushroom coloring of the Chanterelle during the day. At night, however, some of the Jack-O-Lantern mushroom’s gills glow a strange blue green. The mushrooms have a type of bioluminescence some refer to as fox fire.
(Image Credit: Grant McOmie)