Whether the world's best truffles are found in Piedmont or Perigord inspires impassioned debate, but the effects of dwindling supply and insatiable demand for the elusive, ultimate mushroom are unquestionable: prices through the roof, intrigue and deception, and ever more intensive efforts to cultivate. The secrets of when, how, and where to collect truffles have benn passed from generation to generation since ancient times, but artificial cultivation remains the holy grail. Here in the most comprehensive practical treatment of the gastronomic treasure to date, the art and science of the high-stakes pursuit come together. Their enthusiasm and expertise leavened with wry humor, the authors explore the newest techniques; they describe the commercial species in detail along with their host plants, natural habitats, cultivation and mintenance, pests and diseases, and harvesting with pigs, dogs, truffle flies, and even the electronic nose. Pursuit of the fungus that costs more than gold is not for the faint of heart nor for those in a hurry, as under ideal conditions, truffle production in artificial truffieres can begin after three years but results may not be seen until a decade after planting, and maximum yields not for another decade still. So there is time to read and prepare, and no better source than this one.

Forests of the Pacific Northwest have been an epicenter for the evolution of truffle fungi with over 350 truffle species and 55 genera currently identified. Truffle fungi develop their reproductive fruit-bodies typically belowground, so they are harder to find and study than mushrooms that fruit aboveground. Nevertheless, over the last five decades, the Corvallis Forest Mycology program of the Pacific Northwest Research Station has amassed unprecedented knowledge on the diversity and ecology of truffles in the region. Truffle fungi form mycorrhizal symbioses that benefit the growth and survival of many tree and understory plants. Truffle fruit-bodies serve as a major food souce for many forest-dwelling mammals. A few truffle species are commercially harvested for gourmet consumption in regional restaurants. This publication explores the biology and ecology of truffle fungi in the Pacific Northwest, their importance in forest ecosystems, and effects of various silvicultural practices on sustaining truffle populations. General management principles and considerations to sustain this valuable fungal resource are provided.

COOKING/WINE

Everything You Could Ever Want to Know about Mushrooms! Mushrooms are an incredibly vast range of species, including all shapes and sizes and colors. This exciting collection includes a wealth of information on two hundred essential mushroom varieties, including their: Scientific names Habitats Modes of development Botanical specificities Uses in culinary cuisine And more! Spread throughout this book are hand-drawn illustrations and full-color photographs of every mushroom you can imagine. Whether you want to identify mushrooms, study mushrooms, or use edible mushrooms in your recipes, The Ultimate Guide to Mushrooms is for you!

The first fully-illustrated book to not only help readers cook with mushrooms, but also to help them forage for fungi in the wild, The Edible Mushroom Book is part field guide, part cookbook. Beginning in the kitchen, readers learn how to prepare wild fungi for cooking, then how to make sixty mouthwatering recipes from Scrambled Chanterelles to Baked Mushroom Polenta. Moving on to the field, The Edible Mushroom Book tells you where and when to forage, provides an identification guide, and includes information on morethan fifty-five edible mushrooms.

Reproduction of the original: The Gourmet ́s Guide to London by Nathaniel Newnham-Davis