Review: Twenty Common Mushrooms

Okay, this won't be the same type of review as the Simon & Schuster guide I did in March. Why? Well, this is less of a field guide and more of a book on cooking mushrooms. Plus it's from 1965 so it's a little hard to compare. Actually, now that I'm thinking about it, I should change the tag on these posts from Field Guide Reviews to Mushroom Books. I own quite a few field guides which are useful for ID... I also have a bunch of out-of-print books that are great for seeing how the perception and approach toward mushroom have changed over the years.

This book was put together by members of the Boston Mycological Club (you can get more information about this great group - currently in their 113th year! - here) At around 100 pages, the paperback focuses on explaining what a mushroom is, classification, identification, and recipes. Even as far back as 1965, books were warning of improper techniques; trying to correct misconceptions of identifying edible varieties, such as

"Indiscriminate mushroom eaters rely upon the quack silver test. If a silver coin or spoon does not turn black when boiled with the mushrooms, they pass as edible. Some deadly Amanitas do not turn silver black, but will poison you fatally."


It is also interesting to compare changes in the years since it was published. It points out that there were over 600 commercial growers in the 60's. We now have less than 300. However, consumption has increased 20 to 30 fold over that same time period.

Some of my favorite recipes include: (note, I have yet to actually try any of these, I am simply going on their names.)

• Unexpected Soup from the Early Coprinus (can't say this sounds too tempting to me...)

• Eye Catching Comatus Pickle (Ummm... no.)

• Mushroom Pasties (I imagine there would be better choices.)

Okay, so I selectively picked out some off-sounding ones, but there are many others in the book that sound gloriously tantalizing... like:

• Pickle Nibblers

• Comatus Special

Okay, okay. But there really are a few.

For those of you who might be interested in tracking this book down, I've seen a few used copies of the book available online. Here, here, and you can even borrow it from Plymouth State University in NH, here!