Finding wild hedgehog mushrooms in BC
Found these lovely, big mushrooms near Bella Coola, BC on a foraging trip in October. They are great mushrooms for beginners because there are no poisonous look alikes to confuse you. The distinctive feature of hedgehog mushrooms is their little ‘teeth’ or fingers that hang down on the underside of the cap. The mushroom is…
Edible Seaweed – How to harvest and enjoy sea lettuce
Sea lettuce – (Ulva lactuca) – This bright green seaweed grows in thin sheets in the mid-intertidal zone, so it’s easy to pick at low tide. A very clean tasting seaweed, not fishy, great in seaweed salad or add to ramen, congee or risotto for a colourful note of the sea. Great firm texture. Can…
How to make Chaga tea
Chaga (Inonotus obliquus ) is a superfood aptly named the ‘gold’ of the forest. Find it growing on older, dead or dying birch trees in BC. It’s a wild mushroom that’s as hard as a rock, but can be smashed into small particles to make into tea. This is an ancient medicine used by cultures…
How to harvest geoduck clams
Geoduck are called the king of clams for a reason. When they are eaten raw and fresh from the sea they have an almost crunchy texture and have a briny and slightly sweet flavour. These big beauties are the laughing stock of the sea, but amazingly can go for $60/lb. If you on the Pacific…
Foraging for stinging nettles in BC
Stinging nettles are a nutritious and tasty forest snack, easily found in the forests and by waterways like ditches in BC. They taste a bit like spinach and are packed with the vitamins and minerals that are so good for a body. They grow plentifully and must be harvested in spring with gloves to protect…
Don’t freak out! Safety tips on Death Cap mushrooms
Wild mushrooms have been eaten by humans for centuries and with a little education they will continue to be a safe food for many happy families hunting in the woods around BC. Recently, the death cap mushroom (Amanita phalloides) had it’s first fatality ever in Victoria. This is a deadly poisonous mushroom that is easy…
Foraging: Birch Leaves
I have a lovely birch tree in my Vancouver backyard. In the spring, I love to pick 3 new bright green leaves for my tea in the morning. The taste is very fresh and spicy, similar to a green tea and really good for you. A little lemon and honey balances the flavour nicely. Foraging…
Eat your Weeds! Bittercress
It’s Spring in Vancouver and time to start yanking those weeds. I can tell you which annoying weeds in your garden are edible in this video series on foraging in BC. I’ll start with bittercress. It’s peppery and really tasty, I use it in salads or as a spice. Foraging in Vancouver with Chef Robin…