One of delights of living where we do in France is the availability of wild mushrooms. Our village has a well-deserved reputation.
The King of Mushrooms (other than Truffles) is the Cepe (Boletus Edulis). Its taste is such that mushroom hunters become obsessed. Locations are carefully guarded, and competition is fierce.
Exceptional harvests can always be preserved. They freeze well, and can be bottled in either oil or water; I prefer 'water', as in a recipe given to me by my Vigneronne.
As such I have never had to actually BUY Cepes, either fresh or preserved. But this Christmas I was given a tin of Cepes in oil (above); something I had never tried before.
Well, I was very pleasantly surprised. The texture was certainly different, but the full flavour was still there.
After this upcoming Summer, one of the things on my 'To Bring Back' list will certainly be a few of these tins.
Kimbo also gave me a jar of Girolles (Chanterelles), but I'm not expecting them to be quite as good. There is no question that the taste will be there, but I've always found that preserving Girolles never really works.
Watch this space... I shall report back!
NB. The Co that cans these mushrooms is called Laguilhon, and their products are always sold in their distinctive yellow packs/tins/etc. They are makers of all of the local specialities, and if you are in the S W France, area and thinking of taking back a few treats, I can recommend everything they produce. I have never been disappointed!
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