In episode 8, Scotty and Elise talk to a couple of fun guys about fungi!

Scotty gets to chat to his favorite chef and restaurateur about a 19 course mushroom degustation. The inimitable Nathan Dunnell, executive chef and owner of Elska explains there’s not mushroom for error in the culinary world when you take advantage of seasonality. Nathan is a champion preserver and says to buy as much as you need of an ingredient when it is at its best, use it fresh and also consider how to store it for use later in the year.

Thomas Zdravko, mushroom nerd and identification expert, discusses how the process of fungi identification continues to be scary - even for someone of his extraordinary expertise and deep understanding of fungi biodiversity. He introduces Scott and Elise to the app 'iNaturalist' while further encouraging relationships with mushroom experts via his Facebook fungi group.

Stay tuned to the end of the episode for a seriously delicious show and tell, featuring a grief stricken chicken and an umami rich custard.

REFERENCES:

BOOKS:

For The Truffle Cookbook by Rodney Dunn https://tasmaniangourmetonline.com.au/products/the-truffle-cookbook-by-rodney-dunn

For Annie’s Farmhouse Kitchen:

https://www.hardiegrant.com/au/publishing/bookfinder/book/annie_s-farmhouse-kitchen-by-annie-smithers/9781743792643

COOL FOOD STUFF:

To visit Elska: https://www.elska.com.au/reservations

To join Thomas' Facebook fungi group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1462936457145846/

Agrarian Kitchen's Cooking with truffles: https://www.theagrariankitchen.com/The_Agrarian_Kitchen/cooking_with_truffles.html

To follow Nathan on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nathandunnell/

To follow Thomas on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thomushed/

To follow Martin Martini on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bellyoftheworldmushrooms/

To download the app iNaturalist - https://www.inaturalist.org/