Wild Mushroom Foraging 101

Take a visual hike through the woods with us and learn to recognize some of the incredible fungi that flourish in the Midwest – and how to begin safely harvesting and enjoying them at the table. Presenters: Michael Karns, Lisa Golden Schroeder, and Dennis Becker, co-authors of “Untamed Mushrooms: Field to Table”. Their book will be available for purchase and signing at this free event! Donations are appreciated at the door to help the Great River Road Visitor & Learning Center continue our fabulous programming.

About the presenters/authors:

Michael Karns began foraging as a teenager after he and his family moved to forty wooded acres in north-central Arkansas. Since those humble beginnings collecting puffballs and wood ear, his passion for great food and a slightly obsessive compulsion for learning have led him to delve deeply into mycology and the delicious treasures the forest has to offer. Michael is a certified mycological identification expert in the area of food service and sourcing, a member of the North American Mycological Association (NAMA) and the Minnesota Mycological Society (MMS), and owner/proprietor of “Found Foods”—a purveyor of wild-sourced and artisan-created foods from across the region and around the world and host to classes and dining events. Through this pursuit Michael brings his knowledge, experience, and products to the novice and expert alike. You might find some of his forest discoveries on your plate in a Twin Cities foodie-favorite eatery or online at www.foundfoods.com.

Dennis Becker is a Minneapolis-based commercial photographer specializing in food photography. His work for local and international food companies can be seen in cookbooks and magazines and on billboards, food packaging, websites, and social media. He has extensive experience working with advertising agencies in Minneapolis as well as New York, Chicago, San Francisco, and Los Angeles. His work can be seen at dennisbeckerphotography.com. In 2014, Dennis Becker and LisaGolden Schroeder created the blog 2fish1dish.com to tell stories, through photos and words, of inspirational people with a passion for regional food and nature. Photographing Untamed Mushrooms inspired and taught him about the varieties of mushrooms that are truly works of art—and good to eat. Dennis works out of his studio in the Minneapolis area.

Lisa Golden Schroeder is a veteran food writer, food stylist for commercial photography, and entrepreneur. Armed with a degree in nutrition and journalism, along with a mind-expanding stint at École de Cuisine La Varenne in France, her real-life work experience as a corporate test kitchen professional and cookbook editor led her to writing for national publications, both in print and as a sought-after blogger for clients. Her own web site, Foodesigns.com, features her food styling portfolio and trifling with food, an eclectic kitchen journal filled with her modest culinary adventures and food memories. She is the cofounder, with Dennis Becker, of the blog 2fish1dish.com. She specializes in cooking with whole foods and developing approachable recipes for families, often veering onto the path of less familiar flavors and unique techniques. Her second home is on the edge of the northeastern wilderness of Minnesota, where identifying wild foods along forest trails is a constant source of fascination.