Mushroom Hunters

Today's New York Times has a profile of Tom Nauman, a mushroom hunter in downstate Magnolia who also owns a store dedicated to morels with his wife. The story tracked the Nauman as he searched the woods in search of edible mushrooms.

It wasn't really news that edible mushrooms grow in Illinois. The story did prompt us to ask why we don't hunt for mushrooms ourselves, with the Forest Preserves nearby? A couple calls to the Forest Preserve District of Cook County answered the questions with authority. It is unlawful to forage for mushrooms, morels, or other fungi on Forest Preserve property unless it is for scientific research, and then only with a permit.

We think we can somehow tie in Caroline's recent recipes calling for mushrooms as research, if pressed.

Image via morelmania.com.