On Saturday Larry Evans, dubbed the Indiana Jones of mushrooms, will share tales of his adventures in South America, as part of the third annual Sunshine Coast Mushroom Festival.
This is a unique opportunity to learn from one of the world's experts on fungi of all kinfs. He'll show images of some of the amazing mushrooms he's encountered on his travels and relate stories about the people he's met along the way.
For the foodies among us, Evan's presentation will be preceded by a gourmet three-course mushroom-centric dinner at the Painted Boat Restaurant in Madeira Park, complete with wine pairings - an evening not to be missed.
The ID tables at the Festival's daytime event from 11 .m. to 4:30 p.m. will be covered with mushrooms of all kinds. The questions most often asked of the experts behind the tables: is this one edible? Where can I find it?
Learning about edibles is a great start to developing an interest in mushrooms. And there are many knowledgeable people on the Coast who are generous in sharing what they know. Check out workshops offered by the Iris Griffith Centre or Elder College, or join the Sunshine Coast SHROOM.
The world of fungi is vastly greater than those we can eat, however. We are only just beginning to understand the role mushrooms play in maintaining the health of our forests, not to mention those used for medicinal purposes. Some mushrooms even produce incredible colors for dyeing fiber.
On Sunday Evans will lead a foray at a forest location to be announced. He's also leading a foray for SHROOM members only today (Friday) [email protected] more information. Here's a chance to pick the brains of someone who lives and breathes mushrooms. If an edible is to be found, he'll know what it is. But be prepared to go beyond those for the table and learn something fascinating and wonderful about the wider world of fungi.
Dinner with Evans: $75. Foray $45 (SHROOM members $35). For more information see www.scshroom.org or call604-883-3678.
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