September 25, 2002

3:20 PM

Kinoko-ya has stunningly beautiful pictures of mushrooms. (Please don't crash the site, gang; I'm using it for research...)
posted by realjanetkagan (25 comments total)

kinoko-ya? i ate some muchrooms once and it was 3 days before i stopped saying shit like that.
posted by quonsar at 3:25 PM on September 25, 2002

Not trying to be a jerk, but the only way I can think of not to crash the site is to not click on the link, which begs the question: why post it?
posted by cell divide at 3:35 PM on September 25, 2002

quonsar: once?
posted by cell divide at 3:35 PM on September 25, 2002

holy crap!
posted by GeekAnimator at 3:37 PM on September 25, 2002

What a beautiful, complete site this is! Thanks, janet! Of course, it being Autumn my mind turns to what are supposedly the most delicious and expensive mushrooms in the world - Matsutakes. Apparently they grow in Canada too. I'm afraid I'll die without ever trying one - though I have enough descriptions from my itamae/sushi chef to last me a lifetime. Has anyone here tried one?
posted by MiguelCardoso at 3:49 PM on September 25, 2002

(Please don't crash the site, gang; I'm using it for research...)

so you're asking us not to visit it?
posted by donkeyschlong at 4:20 PM on September 25, 2002

cell divide: Because I knew how many people here would like the site as much as I do...and because I trusted you gentlefolk---if I asked you to go lightly---to wait a bit to look instead of all piling on at once. So far, I'm right. Thanks.

quonsar: heh. I haven't had anything *that* good since my college days (class of '68). Geez, I miss it!

Miguel: No, I haven't had a matsutake, more's the pity. There are a *lot* of mushrooms I'd love to taste if I had 1) a mushroom expert at my right hand who was willing to take the first bite, or b) less good sense than I have. ;)
posted by realjanetkagan at 4:21 PM on September 25, 2002

donkeyschlong posted in the 'shroom thread at 4:20PM PST.


/me being goofy
posted by monique at 4:21 PM on September 25, 2002

So far, I'm right. Thanks.

Alternative interpetation: not that interesting. Just pointing it out-- I looked
posted by yerfatma at 4:28 PM on September 25, 2002

Beautiful! And the interesting thing mycologists will tell you is that the same material that makes up mushrooms is structurally similar to the cells in your brain.

peace!
Jack
www.mindspace.org
posted by jackspace at 4:46 PM on September 25, 2002

yerfatma: *My* glass is half full. Sorry yours in half empty. ;)

You may not be interested as interested in fungi as I am---few people are and I've known that most of my life---but for the three or so of those MeFites who are, here's a link to Tom Volk's Fungi, too. It's nowhere near as pretty a site as Kinoko-ya but it's got lots of great info for fungi-lovers.

Don't miss the fungus of the month!
posted by realjanetkagan at 5:12 PM on September 25, 2002

Awesome site! Thanks.

Jackspace -- where would there be more info on the net, related to your comment about shrooms and human brain composition? THAT'S fawking wild.
posted by zenpop at 5:24 PM on September 25, 2002

realjanet, this is a refreshing change from the political posts, tho I like those too. But variety is what makes mefi fun, imo. Chances are, I wouldn't have sought out any 'shroom sites, but I have enjoyed the ones you've selected. The photos in the first are indeed beautiful.

Here's a guide replete with photos for the variety quonsar must be talking about. It wouldn't do to confuse them in a recipe.
posted by madamjujujive at 5:36 PM on September 25, 2002

Realjanet: what a wonderful link. Thanks for posting!

This is one of the things the web does best: excellent, up-to-date coverage of small interests. I always enjoy seeing something so lovingly compiled. Who knew mushrooms could be so beautiful?
posted by frykitty at 5:41 PM on September 25, 2002

Has anyone here tried one? [matsutake mushrooms]

Yes. And frankly, you're not really missing anything. The only thing that's special about them is the price, and the fact that Japanese people fetishize them for some reason.

Portobello mushrooms on the other hand................
posted by hama7 at 6:33 PM on September 25, 2002

If you are afraid of crashing the site or are uninterested in looking at all the pictures, check these links for a sampling of the different colors and geometries.

There are a *lot* of mushrooms I'd love to taste if I had 1) a mushroom expert at my right hand who was willing to take the first bite....

realjanetkagan, you would also need several days. "Symptoms of the most dangerous mushrooms affecting the central nervous system may show up after several days have passed when it is too late to reverse their effects." (By the way, great post!)
posted by quarantine at 6:40 PM on September 25, 2002

i don't even know what 'crashing' a site means. i don't know a lot of things.

i had no idea that there mushrooms that weren't ugly

okay, time to stop procastinating and do some friggin homework...
posted by prescribed life at 8:46 PM on September 25, 2002

quarantine: Dang, I wish I'd thought to present the site the way you just did! Lovely.... Next time I'll try to do that.

And, just between you and me, I wouldn't eat wild mushrooms with anybody other than Ralph...and only if he survived his tasting.
posted by realjanetkagan at 10:37 PM on September 25, 2002

Cheers, hama7!
posted by MiguelCardoso at 3:09 AM on September 26, 2002

Back at ya, MiguelCarduso!

Great post, quarantine! Some of those look like coral.
posted by hama7 at 3:19 AM on September 26, 2002

MiguelCardoso, that is.
posted by hama7 at 3:20 AM on September 26, 2002

On a side note: John Cage was also an amateur mycologist.
posted by hama7 at 3:29 AM on September 26, 2002

These pictures make the amateur fungi photographer in me despair at ever taking so many beautiful pictures.

On the other hand, a few weeks ago I found some Jack O'lantern mushrooms (they really do glow in the dark!) and pictures like this don't do them justice.
posted by emyd at 1:13 PM on September 26, 2002

Anyone interested in having mushrooms identified by experts should contact a local affiliated club of the North American Mycological Association. Matsutake are wonderful mushrooms, though for the price and taste they hardly compare with Chanterelles.

For some truly freaky looking glow in the dark shrooms, check these out.
posted by lasm at 10:56 PM on September 26, 2002

Wonderful link to a truly gorgeous site. Thanks, realjanetkagan (and quarantine for the helpful pointers). Is there something about Japan that produces such an amazing variety? Btw, here's a related thread about the Lichen Portrait Gallery.

John Cage was also an amateur mycologist.

Beatrix Potter's first love was mycology.
posted by mediareport at 8:19 AM on September 28, 2002