(lactarius rubrilacteus)
One November evening in a cabin on Galiano Island, I read about the bleeding milk cap - historically harvested in the Mediterranean, recently very rarely found in North America, exudes a red sap when the flesh is cut... for no discernible reason I got it into my head that this was my "white whale", and proclaimed such to my partner. The next day in a forest that had burned 5 years previously, at the base of a conifer tree (either Douglas Fir or Hemlock, not sure which it was), in a profound fit of unlikeliness, I found two. I must have heard them calling through the trees the night before.
True to the guide books, the stem oozed red sap profusely when sliced. Copious, blood-like sap. Other characteristics include the concentric rings on the convex cap, and thin stem. We fried them up with butter and they were underwhelming in flavour, a disappointment after the "fate" and "wonder" and "statistical improbability" of it all. What are you going to do.
A few years later, a different forest, three more bleeding milk caps revealed themselves to us in a hollow on a steep hill of Douglas Firs. The sap ran red when cut as before, unmistakable. We gave them another chance and fried them in butter, and this time they were truly delicious. It seems that the same variety of mushroom can vary widely in flavour depending on conditions - soil, weather, etc.
bleeding milk cap on wikipedia
(chlorophyllum rhacodes)
On the edge of an old logging road on Galiano Island we found a few pounds of these meatiest of mushrooms. Seriously, they taste like steak when fried with butter. A truly extraordinary flavour. Distinctive scales in rings on the cap, bruising reddish-orange (as seen on the cut stems), stem is bulbous at the bottom. When fried we noticed orange resin emerging.
shaggy parasol at wikipedia
(russula xerempelina)
My first shrimp mushroom called to me, led me directly to it like I was following the sound of its voice. I didn't know what it was so I took photos of its crazy pink and purple colouring and went on my way. Later identified, it became a favourite that we've found in various locations in large quantities. Excellent flavour, fried in butter of course, on crackers or by themselves. They're often described in less than exciting terms ("mild flavoured"), but we've found them to be full flavoured. Differences in soil? in palate? The deer of Galiano Island seem to enjoy them.
Unmistakable pink and purple colouring on these lovely creatures, and a pink tint to the stem. The ones that we've found grow quite large, 6 inch wide caps and thick. The stalk should be firm and break like chalk, rather than shredding.
shrimp mushroom at wikipedia
a.k.a. pine mushroom (trichloma matsutake)
Highly valued (up to $200/lb., apparently), smelling of cinnamon hearts (surprisingly distinctly!) with a touch peppery nutmeg, a sophisticated rich umami succulence... I randomly stumbled over this beauty during my first mushrooming weekend. "What's that one?" I asked, all dumb luck. Fortunately Odete recognized it for its true glory, and we carefully unearthed our treasure from the thick duff and moss. All that was visible was a golf ball sized portion of the cap poking through the duff, with most of its mass hidden. Sliced and lightly fried in olive oil, this was truly one of the most delicious things I've ever eaten. Sometimes you get what you pay for.
Aside from the characteristic cinnamon heart smell, another defining characteristic is that matsutake doesn't have a volva at the base of the stem, where the poisonous amanita ocreata (which is also large and white) does. So, check the base of the stem!
matsutake at wikipedia
(cantharellus subalbidus)
We found these in a mature fir forest (50+ years old) in deep moss, along with boletes and others. Odete loves the chanterelles. I think they're alright.
The gills go down the stalk considerably - if they don't, they're likely false chanterelle. When in doubt throw it out!
white chanterelle at wikipedia
(helvella lacunosa)
We found these distinctive characters on Galiano Island and the Sunshine Coast. Odete enjoyed them fried with butter, I didn't like the cartilaginous texture. Super weird looking! Elves ride them!
fluted black elfin saddle at wikipedia
