Mushroom hunters have long called the chanterelle (or girolle in French) the “queen of the forest” because of the mushroom’s earthy but mild flavor.
The most common variety, the golden chanterelle, can be found in specialty markets and some supermarkets. The mushroom often is part of the mixed “wild mushroom” packages in supermarkets.
Chanterelles are one of the more attractive mushrooms with a golden/orange color and a whimsical lily shape. “The beauty of the color is matched by the beauty of its form, a curving trumpet with delicate ribs running from the stalk through to the under edge of the cap like fine vaulting,” wrote the late Jane Grigson in “The Mushroom Feast.”
They have a pleasing nutty flavor and almost a fruity finish similar to apricots, according to Elizabeth Schneider in “Vegetables from Amaranth to Zucchini.”
Buying tips: Storing hints: Cooking suggestions:
