Attack of the giant shroom!

Posted on by Mackensy Lunsford

William Dissen, chef/owner of The Market Place, holds a 30-pound maitake, also known as hen of the woods. The mushroom was found yesterday in a “secret location” in north Asheville by Tom McGruder, part of Dissen’s “forager network.” And he’s pretty happy about it. “I really geeked out on this one. I’ve never seen one that’s 30 pounds — and all edible. Typically, they only go up to ten pounds. It’s the biggest freaking mushroom I’ve ever seen.”

The maitake mushroom is native to this area, and is available primarily in the fall and is often found growing near the trunks of oak trees. Its dense flesh is coveted in Asian cuisine. Dissen and company will use the fungus for wild-mushroom ravioli, served with a roasted-pumpkin puree, chevre from Spinning Spider and preserved lemon. “We also have specials we run from time to time, like a mushroom gratin with shallots, garlic, white wine and a Parmesan-herb crust,” Dissen says.

Want to eat it? The Market Place is located at 20 Wall Street. The restaurant is open for dinner at 5:30 p.m. every day except for Sunday.

SHARE

Thanks for reading through to the end…

We share your inclination to get the whole story. For the past 25 years, Xpress has been committed to in-depth, balanced reporting about the greater Asheville area. We want everyone to have access to our stories. That’s a big part of why we've never charged for the paper or put up a paywall.

We’re pretty sure that you know journalism faces big challenges these days. Advertising no longer pays the whole cost. Media outlets around the country are asking their readers to chip in. Xpress needs help, too. We hope you’ll consider signing up to be a member of Xpress. For as little as $5 a month — the cost of a craft beer or kombucha — you can help keep local journalism strong. It only takes a moment.

Before you comment

The comments section is here to provide a platform for civil dialogue on the issues we face together as a local community. Xpress is committed to offering this platform for all voices, but when the tone of the discussion gets nasty or strays off topic, we believe many people choose not to participate. Xpress editors are determined to moderate comments to ensure a constructive interchange is maintained. All comments judged not to be in keeping with the spirit of civil discourse will be removed and repeat violators will be banned. See here for our terms of service. Thank you for being part of this effort to promote respectful discussion.

3 thoughts on “Attack of the giant shroom!”

  2. scott

    That is amazing! I have found some beauties this fall! The ravioli dish sounds delicious!

Leave a Reply

To leave a reply you may Login with your Mountain Xpress account, connect socially or enter your name and e-mail. Your e-mail address will not be published. All fields are required.