Blog  September 16, 2011

One giant mushroom

L: "Fairy-ring" of Giant puffball mushrooms around the tree. R: JR shows us just how big that mushroom was! (Photos: JR Leo)

By: JR Leo, Project Manager, Downsview Park and Halton Region

One morning while I was getting set to leave for work at the Brick Works, I happened to notice a strange visitor in my backyard. Among the many tomatoes and beans ready for harvest in the garden, there was a rather unmistakable addition. With its pure white colour and growth pattern, it’s likely the largest and most coveted food of my entire fall harvest––a giant puffball mushroom!

I wasn’t surprised to see it. In fact, with cool steady temperatures and lots of moisture in the air, it is common at this time of year to see various mushrooms popping up. Some grow on lawns, some on trees and some (fortunately!) grow in my backyard. Giant Puffball mushrooms grow all over Canada; there are both East and West species which can be found across the country. Indeed, members of the large Puffball family span the globe.

So what do you do with a mushroom this big? You bring it to work to show off to your friends and colleagues, and then eat it of course! When I got to work, Chef Brad Long, from Cafe Belong here at the Brick Works, saw what I was carrying and immediately propositioned me: “How much, I gotta have it!” Knowing how delectable it would be, I bartered with him. After showing it off to the rest of the office, I would bring it back for consumption at the café. We shook on it and I went upstairs.

After amazing everyone with my GIANT puffball, I invited them to come down to the café in the afternoon to taste this puffy creation. As the anticipation grew, I answered eager questions about the mushroom, like why they grow in “circles” (called fairy-rings) and how all the mushrooms in the ring are a part of one huge network of mycelium underneath.

JR shows off pictures of his Giant puffball mushroom to Xiao Wei

The time to dine came quickly and as we walked in to the café, I noticed Chef Long was serving MY mushroom to a strange group seated in the corner. There were about four cameramen taking photos of one gentleman in particular, who turned out to be Xiao Wei, lead singer of the band Catcher in the Rye and one of the most famous rock stars from China. He had seen the ‘shroom sitting on Chef Long’s cutting board and was ecstatic––he had never seen such a large Canadian mushroom. When it was pointed out that I was the man responsible for bringing it, I gladly took the opportunity to continue showing off in front of the Chinese press gang.

Chef Brad Long with JR and Sue Arndt, ready to taste the mushroom salad

Following my brush with fame, Chef Long held up his end of our deal and we chowed down on that giant mushroom.