Cheap chanterelles

“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.”