Surrounded by forests and blessed with an ideal moist, coastal climate, Port Renfrew is rich with edible wild mushrooms including Chanterelles, Morels, Oyster Mushrooms and the elusive and highly-prized Pine Mushroom. Once properly educated on identifying edible species, mushroom hunting can be a fun (and deliciously rewarding) autumn activity – and Port Renfrew is known as top spot for it. So, after a photo-taking session at the cottages today, we took a quick detour into the forest to try our luck. Jackpot! Found about 3Lbs of delicious Chanterelles in about 20 minutes! Also a few Oyster mushrooms. Had to use my hat as a bag 
Close up on Chanterelles
Chanterelles everywhere!
We had to use my hat because our tupperware wasnt big enough!
Here’s a recipe from the tasty dinner that followed!
Wild Chanterelle & Oyster mushroom stroganoff
3 cups sliced wild mushrooms (Chanterelles, Oysters)
1/4 c finely minced red onion
1 clove garlic – crushed
2 roma tomatoes – seeded and finely diced
2 tbs Boursin cheese
1/2 cup cream
small sprig Rosemary
Salt and pepper
Olive oil
1 package of egg noodles, cooked ‘al dente’
heat about 2 tablespoons of Olive Oil on high in a wide frying pan. Add the onion and sautee until slightly translucent. Add the mushrooms and spread all over the pan. Resist the urge to stir – and let the mushrooms stay put and evaporate some of their liquid. (learned this in a cooking class – over stirring makes mushrooms ‘mushy’). Once the liquid is mostly released, stir in the garlic and tomatoes and let it be for several more minutes until there’s hardly and liquid left in the pan and the mushrooms and tomatoes are well-cooked. Turn down the heat to low. Once not too hot, add the cream, scraping up any bottom bits from the pan. Season with kosher salt and pepper. Pour over hot noodles & serve. Yum!
About half the day's haul
Wild mushrooms, red onion and tomato
Wild Mushroom Stroganoff simmering away
Ready to eat!
It was delicious! Thank-you Port Renfrew!
See: south island mycological society www.svims.ca, or Sierra Club BC to learn more about edible wild mushrooms – classes are sometimes available. You could also contact the Port Renfrew Chamber of Commerce for more info about mushrooming in the area. And it goes without saying, but here’s our disclaimer – NEVER EAT FOREST MUSHROOMS UNLESS YOU ARE 100% SURE THEY’RE NOT POISONOUS.
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