Cheap chanterelles

2006 December 2
by nicoeats

“Would you like a sample?”

“What do you want to convince me of?”

I make it a ritual now to wonder into the Urban Fare grocery store on Sundays to eat their samples (works well because I play volleyball across the street).

“We just want you to try our products and tell us what you think,” said the guy in the funny hat. “Here, have one.”

“What am I eating?”

“Chanterelles sauteed in white wine and butter.”

“Are you kidding me? Why would you give me free chanterelles?

“We just want you to try them.”

“And is that the right price tag? Are you really selling them for $19/pound?”

Chanterelles usually retail at around 40-50/pound. I’m surprised and tempted.

“Not only that, we also have hedgehog, black trumpet and shimeji mushrooms on sale.”

“Why?” I still can’t understand their strategy.

“It’s almost the end of the season. We need to sell them.”

I’m not about to pass on this one. I load up on chanterelles, hedgehog and black trumpet mushrooms.


I got home and sauteed them the next morning in butter.

These chanterelles were much better than the ones I bought a while ago, and for which I paid the full price. I decided to share my good fortune with Lili, and set aside a few mushrooms for her.

Other than pointing out that I used too much butter (how can such a thing exist!), Lili looked at me and said: “Do you know why they were so cheap?”

“…”

“They had worms…”

“Really?”

“yeah, a little worm crawled out of your chanterelle.”

I suddenly feel little worms walking inside my intestines. I want to make a quick exit to the toilet.

“Sorry I gave you infested mushrooms.”

“Oh, don’t worry. I cleaned them and made soup.”

“And how did they taste?”

“Good, minus the butter.”

6 Responses leave one →
  1. 2006 December 5
    Mimu permalink

    It’s a grandma’s saying that you should buy vegetables that have worm bites when you shop in the market. Cause worms are “smart!” they know truly which vegetable is the freshest the juiciest, and uses the least fertilizer. Thus according to this theory, your Chanterelles would be the champaign. ^_^

    btw, there’s such thing as “too buttery”. in Lili’s standard,ha ha ha (evil laugh)

  2. 2006 December 11
    peabody permalink

    You lucked out on that price for Chanterelles.

  3. 2006 December 21
    Nico permalink

    Mimu — Nooooooooo….there can never be enough butter (or cheese) ;)

    Peabody — absolutely…i guess the only way to get them cheaper would be to go out and find them myself.

  4. 2007 June 6
    Wow permalink

    uhhh let me get this straight…did you say WORMS??!?! *faint*

  5. 2008 July 22
    Robert Marsh permalink

    Hi did you buy the chanterelles in tokyo? i,m trying to find a place cheaper than nissin.
    if you know a place please let me know. thank you.

  6. 2008 July 23
    nicoeats permalink

    Hi robert,

    I’ve never bought chanterelles in Tokyo. No idea where you could get them. You could try asking at this restaurant where they specialize in mushrooms: http://www.sunnypages.jp/travel_guide/tokyo_restaurants/french/Mushroom/3301

    The other place that doesn’t carry them but might know where to get them is Le Fermier. http://www.sunnypages.jp/travel_guide/tokyo_food/cheese/Fermier+Atago+Shop/1566

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