Douglas Irwin#mushroomrecipes, #porcinimushrooms, #pastaandmushrooms, #anthonybourdainComment

Mainly Mushrooms

Douglas Irwin#mushroomrecipes, #porcinimushrooms, #pastaandmushrooms, #anthonybourdainComment
Mainly Mushrooms

Mainly Mushrooms 

“Nature alone is antique, and the oldest art a mushroom
~Thomas Caryle”

Black truffles

What is Umami, you ask? In Japanese it means; "pleasant", "savory taste" or just plain "yummie". Without getting too scientific or technical, it's that indescribable, savory, flavor in seafood, tomatoes, Parmesan cheese, steak, truffles, and my favorite mushrooms.

Today I paid a visit to my favorite purveyor, Mainly Mushrooms at the Lansdale Farmers Market. Most Saturdays during the summer, I will stop by to purchase produce and mushrooms to cook with later that day. Today I'm making tagliatelle with porcini mushrooms. Take below link to the recipe.

Tagliatelle with fresh porcini mushrooms

Mainly Mushrooms Fresh Mushrooms

Mainly Mushrooms consists of husband-and-wife team Chris and Patty Darrah, these guys are well versed in everything funghi and really nice folks too! 

Chris has lots of experience and knowledge, he has been foraging mushrooms well over 25 years.

Today's selection consisted of; (dried and fresh), royal trumpet mushrooms, chanterelles, porcini mushrooms, lobster mushrooms, hedgehog mushrooms, black truffles, morels, mousserons, velvet pioppini, extra-large portobello's (even non funghi items), fiddleheads ferns, ramps, and shallots. If it's fresh and in season they've got it.

Mainly Mushrooms even has printed recipes and are quick to make suggestions, if you are not sure of what to do with what you just purchased.

Mainly Mushrooms is owned and operated by Chris & Patty Darrah.

Contact Mainly Mushrooms

215-794-7080

Use link below to their webpage

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Hong Kong Part 1

Walking down into the club I said nothing. Why? The Chinese bouncer with no neck was massive and from appearances was all business.

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Hong Kong Part 1
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Venice: Small bites, langostino and pick pockets.

We were looking for something "different" to eat, and a wonderful break from the typical cuisine in Venice is Cicchetti. Cicchetti, for lack of a better term, is Venetian tapas.

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Venice: Small bites, langostino and pick pockets.
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Anthony Bourdain

It all started with his book Kitchen Confidential in 2000. That was how I became aware of Anthony Bourdain. 

Tony, as he liked to be called by his friends and colleagues, was the culinary mentor I was always looking for. In my world Tony was a beacon, a bright light, a great storyteller, a guy who shot from the hip, brought us together and yes, he was deeply flawed. 

Tony was, a self-acknowledged reformed heroin and cocaine addict, he confessed back in 2003 “I would have robbed your medicine cabinet had I been invited to your house.” Whatever you may think of Tony, he was controversial and from all appearances, seemed to have everything he ever wanted.

He cheated death, a number of times and created the job of a lifetime, or so it seems. I guess he could never really shake his demons, no matter how successful he became.

He also was a great storyteller, with an an acerbic wit, with a love of great food and he could cook, really cook.

Tony was compassionate, hopelessly human, and yes, he had a potty mouth, but so what? 

I loved the guy, he had a huge impact on me. He, opened my eyes to look at the world and food from a completely different point of view.

 “Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all one's lifetime.”
~ Mark Twain

On Friday, when I heard the news that Anthony took his life, I couldn't believe it,  I still can't. At work in the kitchen where I was cooking, that was all we talked about. It really shook me. 

Finally, on Saturday, I cried, really cried. I cried for Tony, his daughter, his family, his good friend Eric Ripert and for those who feel they can't  go on. I will miss him.

Rest in peace Tony

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Anthony Bourdain