I realize that calling the mushrooms in this bruschetta wild-like may sound a bit odd– maybe even downright unappetizing. You see, I’m trapped by the dilemma of my own impossible standards. The older and crankier I get, the more I find myself irritated by the deliberate mislabeling of items on restaurant menus, in fancy-pants grocery stores and yes– even on some of the best blogs out there. Words should have meaning. Labels should be accurate. Shorthand went the way of secretaries in the 1960s.
Mushroom Bruschetta
Sometimes the dilemma is caused by some copywriter someplace just being sloppy or lazy. So they fall back on certain “culinary buzz words”. Words designed to move the food onto the plate and out of the restaurant. I bet there’s a test for these menu writers and they’ve learned through rote recitation that there are certain ways to make someone order something.
Take fish for example. You’ll often see the phrase “today’s catch” on seafood restaurant menus. Well bull-crap. I mean what are the odds that the chef grabbed his fishing pole on just the day you happened to come into the restaurant? Do you really believe that the fish you are eating was caught today? More precisely the menu should read “fresh fish”– or at least I would hope that would be a precise and accurate phrase.
Local is another word that can be incredibly misleading. Of course it’s possible that the roasted “local” beets are indeed “local”. But when I see that phrase on a menu also sporting the above mentioned “today’s catch” phrase– I’ll be honest, it makes me doubt their truthfulness straight down the menu.
The one menu lie that bugs me the most is the phrase “wild mushrooms”. It’s almost never true. Just about any mushroom more exotic than a plain ole white button mushroom is almost always labeled “wild” even on the best, most sincere menus in town.
Look at the beautiful mushrooms I picked up today at the Hollywood Farmers Market. Certainly beauties like this are wild mushrooms. I mean if you had to draw a picture of wild mushrooms these are exactly what you’d draw. Right? Well, nope… But this doesn’t mean they’re not quality mushrooms. Organic mushrooms. Gorgeous mushrooms. Perfect mushrooms. It just means that these mushrooms are cultivated from varieties that are typically associated with the wilderness.
There’s nothing at all wrong with that. But somehow, somewhere some marketing genius discovered that we’re far more likely to pass these gorgeous mushrooms right on by unless they are incorrectly labeled as wild mushrooms. Which makes me just a little bit crazy.
Don’t get me started on the term organic. Poop is organic, right? GREG
Do not assume from my rant that the Hollywood Farmers Market mislabeled these beautiful mushrooms as “wild”. Their labeling system was spot on, and in fact was the inspiration of all this hullabaloo.
Mushroom Bruschetta with Taleggio, Fontina & Thyme
CLICK here for a printable recipe
- 1 lb assorted “wild” mushrooms, such as cremini, shitake & chanterelles
- 1/4 c olive oil
- kosher salt and freshly cracked black pepper, to taste as needed
- 2 T unslated butter
- 1 T all-purpose flour
- 1 c milk
- 3 oz taleggio cheese, grated
- 3 oz fontina cheese, grated
- 1 T fresh thyme leaves
- 1 c baguette, sliced into 3/4‑inch thick rounds & toasted
Roast the mushrooms: Place the oven rack in center position. Heat the oven to 400 degrees F. Place the mushrooms in a medium-sized bowl, drizzle in olive oil, season with salt and pepper. Toss to coat. Spread the mushrooms out on a parchment-lined rimmed baking sheet in as close to a single layer as possible. Roast in the oven until slightly browned, about 12 minutes. Set aside.
Prepare the sauce: Meanwhile, in a large saucepan, melt the butter over moderate heat. Stir in the flour until a paste forms. Gradually pour in the 1/4 cup milk, whisking until smooth. Bring the béchamel sauce to a simmer over moderately high heat, whisking constantly, until thickened, about 4 minutes. Add the remaining 3/4 cup milk. Reduce the heat to low and cook, whisking often, about 5 minutes.
Make the Mushroom Bruschetta: Remove from the heat and stir in the taleggio and fontina cheese until melted, followed by the thyme leaves. Season the sauce with salt and pepper. Add the roasted mushrooms and all their juices to the pan, stirring to re-heat. Remove from heat and pour into a serving bowl. Serve warm as topping for the toasted baguette slices.
makes 24
Mushroom Bruschetta
I love goat cheese! I had beets for the first time (that I can remember, at least) a few months ago and while they may not have been my favorite they weren’t bad at all to me. I just might have to try this one some time!
First of all you KNOW I’ll be buying your book. I LOVE savory pies and tarts. They are always just so pretty which makes me unbelievably giddy.
This one, for instance is a stunner.
…goat cheese. BUT it looks good. Maybe I can substitute?
reject, I can’t wait to see which recipes actually made the book.…holy cow! This one is a beauty in anyone’s book! Will you be selling autographed copies of your cookbook from your website? Can’t wait to finally see it, congrats!
i love the colors in this! looks and sounds super delicious!
I’m so happy to see another savory pie here! There can never be enough in my opinion. And if this one is as good as the ones I’ve tried in your book i’m SOLD!
DId you know that roasted golden beets is my third most popular post. So look out! Too bad this missed the book.
That was one of the things I was curious about, the items that didn’t make the cut. It must be a hard process deciding which ones get in and which ones don’t.
Of course, I like the combo of beets and goat cheese, especially when it sits on top of pastry, but what really intrigued me was the poppy seeds. They may stick in your teeth but they’re so good and I hardly ever use them.
P.S. So where’s the link to buy the book??
or serach Greg Henry Savory Pies on Google or Amazon. GREG
Almost anything with beets is a winner in my book. Which is good because seeing this post reminded me I’d been meaning to go get your book.
You must do a book tour and come to San Diego? You have fans down here!!
Lovely… the colors in this pie are gorgeous. I got Savory Pies in the mail last week… love the book and your personal comments on each recipe. I have a couple of rabbits in the freezer, so the first recipe I’m going to try is the rabbit pie.