PeteS
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Last of the Wood BlewitsBeen quiet on the forum in recent weeks.
Just got what MUST be the last of the Wood Blewits in my patch for this season. The picture was taken a few days ago. These are a bit moth eaten (I did not pick them) but I have had a constant supply of excellent Blewits for the last 4 months! Outstanding for a single mushroom species. Why they have done so well I don't really know. And soon it will be time for Morrels and St Georges.
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Greenfoot
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I am also looking forward to the gathering of some this Spring. I only collect the ones that I am a 100% certain and do not collect those you need to boil first in order to be eaten safely. 
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fungi2bwith
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I'm very envious of your blewits Pete. I am also looking forward to some spring mushrooms, I know of lots of good St George's patches but I am still a morel virgin. I can't seem to find any in this area, is it any good at the other end of Hampshire?
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bingo
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Pete, I checked out that Morel spot in Southampton  yesterday, not looking for mushrooms just to have a look really. It's quite a big area and continues over the road, infact the river side of the road (if you know what I mean ) is where I think they probably are. There's a solo kids swing and then some almost waste ground, bet you £10 they are there.
Lets check it out when the sun comes..........and the rain.
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fungi2bwith
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Pete, Bingo,
In my research last Spring I found out about a place in Southampton. I suspect it is the same place. I will say no more as everyone will be there!
Although I like the taste of them (tried the dried version) initially it would be great to just see one growing. I have only ever seen one fresh morel. This was shown to me by the river cottage mushroom man. I was shocked at how big they can be!
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bingo
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Keep it under your hat.
Funny shaped apple?
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PeteS
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Have been away for the weekend, well, away from computers.
Fungi2bwith - welcome to the forum - I am sure I've seen your name before, probably on another forum but can't think where. I am also a morel virgin, however, I only started looking for them last spring and last spring we had naff all rain. I don't think many people found morels down south in 2007. Lets hope this spring is better. From my research I believe the New Forest is very poor for Morels. Further north on the Downs (inc around Winchester) they have been found. I also have another spot that I must check out where the report (from about 12yrs ago) quotes "dozens of fruiting bodies!". Still, like you even seeing one in the field would be reward enough.
I looked around the morel spot in Southampton in 2006 but found nothing. Bingo, I agree, they are most likely somewhere where you say they are but where? In a few weeks time and if we get good rain, I will start checking it out during the week.
With the three of us looking (I know Bingo has the knack of finding mushrooms) one of us must find something! Lets hope so.
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bingo
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St George won't be long given it's not like last year. I love the spring, St Georges....Wild Garlic.......Asparagus.....and the hunt for Morels.
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PeteS
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last season I got a total of 10-12 St George mushrooms and half of those had worms. Surely this year can't be any worse.
Wild Garlic is out already down here. I have picked a bit but will leave the rset until it's a bit more mature.
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Truffle
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Amazing!
Blewitts finished here a while ago... can't wait for the morels to start
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cab
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Still the odd wood blewit about here, if you know where to look and how to get around the assorted Cambridge college security guards and porters...
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fungi2bwith
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| PeteS wrote: | last season I got a total of 10-12 St George mushrooms and half of those had worms. Surely this year can't be any worse.
Wild Garlic is out already down here. I have picked a bit but will leave the rset until it's a bit more mature. |
My finds of St Georges were a similar story last year. The wild garlic is out near here too. I had pike and wild garlic fish cakes yesterday, now thats something you won't find in Tesco's!
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bingo
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| fungi2bwith wrote: | | now thats something you won't find in Tesco's! |
Yeah but try getting two chickens for a fiver in your local farm shop.........no chance.
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PeteS
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| fungi2bwith wrote: | | My finds of St Georges were a similar story last year. The wild garlic is out near here too. I had pike and wild garlic fish cakes yesterday, now thats something you won't find in Tesco's! |
Fungi2bwith - did you get the River Cottage Fish Book for Christmas? There is a similar recipe in there, but with chives instead of wild garlic.
I think that pike is an underrated fish in this country. When it is mentioned people say that is tastes muddy, is full of bones and is generally horrible without even having tried it. I have had pike in Austria. It wasn't at all muddy, tasted really nice and the chef managed to get all the bones out. I would definately have it if I could buy it here. When will Tesco's sell it?
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fungi2bwith
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| PeteS wrote: | | fungi2bwith wrote: | | My finds of St Georges were a similar story last year. The wild garlic is out near here too. I had pike and wild garlic fish cakes yesterday, now thats something you won't find in Tesco's! |
Fungi2bwith - did you get the River Cottage Fish Book for Christmas? There is a similar recipe in there, but with chives instead of wild garlic.
I think that pike is an underrated fish in this country. When it is mentioned people say that is tastes muddy, is full of bones and is generally horrible without even having tried it. I have had pike in Austria. It wasn't at all muddy, tasted really nice and the chef managed to get all the bones out. I would definately have it if I could buy it here. When will Tesco's sell it? |
I did get that book for Christmas but don't remember that recipe  . I will go and have a look and see how diffrent it is from my version. I think Pike are not muddy provided they are taken from clean well oxygenated water (same as most other freshwater fish). This one had no taste of mud at all and was caught from a local fast flowing river. They do have lots of little bones, there are some good videos on utube which show you how to fillet and easily remove bones. However, I am still no good at this and always make pigs ear of it. The parts of the fish I used for the fish cakes were baked in foil and I picked the bones by hand.
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fungi2bwith
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just checked the recipe. Mine was a little different, I didn't use the egg or cream. I used the juice from the foil baked fish to moisten the potato (which included white wine, butter and various flavourings). Then coated the fish, potato, and choped wild garlic in bread crumbs.
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PeteS
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Having eaten pike I can see how they could make good fishcakes. Out of interest, do you catch your own? I haven't fished since I was a kid (thinking of starting again) and then every place where I fished for pike you had to throw them back.
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bingo
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| PeteS wrote: | | Having eaten pike I can see how they could make good fishcakes. Out of interest, do you catch your own? I haven't fished since I was a kid (thinking of starting again) and then every place where I fished for pike you had to throw them back. |
Fishing is a good idea Pete, I know nothing about it........but would love to learn. For mushroom hunters the winter is a good time to be out fishing instead.........is it good to fish in the winter? Pricey?
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fungi2bwith
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Yes I do catch my own. Most club waters ban you from taking any, but there are normally free stretches on most rivers where you can fish and take home a fish or two. Winter is a good time for pike fishing. I like to lure fish, being on the move keeps me warm.
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slippery Jack
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Another good winter freshwater table fish is the grayling. Plentiful in many rivers in South of England and Wales.
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