Upcoming Events for September

July ~ August ~ October ~ November

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September 1st

15 tickets available.

The Hedgehog

One of the more common woodland mushrooms is the Hedgehog, appearing from late Summer through late Autumn. It's quite distinctive with the underside of the cap made up of "teeth" rather than gills. Also known as Little Goat, Sheep's Foot and Little Rake, the Hedgehog is quite tasty and a favourite of many wild mushroom pickers.

We'll start our journey right here in Stratford, searching local parks for Blewits and Lactarius. Then we will move on to trails fifteen minutes from town for the Hedgehogs as well as Summer Oyster Mushrooms, Honey Mushrooms, Day Lily Tubers and Wild Ginger.

Come along and add some adventure to your Labour Day Weekend.

Start time: 10:00 am. Duration: approx. 3hrs
Where: 96 Birmingham Street, Stratford, Ontario N5A 2S9
Cost: $35.00/person

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September 2nd

15 spots left.

The Yellow Cracked Bolete

We return to Sudden Tract Forest outside of Cambridge, Ontario to search for one of the more common mushrooms of the Bolete Family. Appearing throughout the Summer and Autumn they are found in mixed wood. The caps are olive to brownish yellow with thick stems, bruising blue. Along with the Yellow Crack we will search for Slipper Jacks, Oysters, Chanterelles and Honey Mushrooms.

We said it before but Sudden Tract is one of the more diverse forests we have come across. Home to a variety of hardwoods such as Maple and Oak as well as Beech. All contributing to a wonderful home for wild mushrooms.

Start time: 10:30 am. Duration: approx. 3hrs
Where: 1841 Spragues Rd, Cambridge, ON N1R 5S5
Cost: $35.00/person

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September 7th

15 spots left.

Staghorn Sumac (Rhus typhina)

Staghorn Sumac is one of our favourite finds of late Summer and early Autumn. The fruit delivers a fine claret-coloured spice and flavor that is deliciously tart and clean tasting. Staghorn Sumac is also high in vitamins C and A along with antioxidants. Recipes include grinding into powder making an ideal seasoning, boiling it into a hot or cold drink as well as making it into a lemony sauce that rivals maple syrup.

There are all sorts of wild edibles on the trails now. Plants, herbs and, of course, a large variety of mushrooms. We're in and around Stratford for a local harvest before moving on to forested trails only 15 minutes from town.

Start time: 10:00 am. Duration: approx. 3hrs
Where: 96 Birmingham Street, Stratford, Ontario N5A 2S9
Cost: $35.00/person

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September 8th

15 tickets available.

Black Trumpets

Along with the Chanterelle the Black Trumpet is prized as one of the best of wild mushrooms. Its succelent texture and sweet taste deliver a melt in your mouth culinary experience that you will not forget. Sauteed gently in wine or added to your favourite ragout, these gems will have your dinner guests wanting more. Once again we're back to Sudden Tract Forest where we're hoping the hardwoods deliver this incredible bounty.

There are other fungi to be found. Summer Oysters, Chanterelles, Hen of the Woods, Shrimp of the Woods, Honey Mushrooms and Puffballs. Find out why The Australian included Puck's Plenty in their article on wild food
earlier this year.

Start time: 10:30 am
Where: 1841 Spragues Rd, Cambridge, ON N1R 5S5
Cost: $35.00/person

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September 14th Forage and Feast

14 tickets available.

We're in the waning days of Summer as those tree shadows seem just a bit longer while the rich green of the forest floor begins to fade. Nonetheless there are rich wild edibles to be found on trails only minutes from Stratford. Oyster Mushrooms, Puffballs, Boletes to name but a few. We'll collect these along with wild ginger, wild leek bulbs and watercress before returning to Stratford Tea Leaves where a hearty four course meal awaits us. The menu begins with Truffle Gouda from Mountain Oak Cheese accompanied with baskets of fresh baguettes from The Downie Street Bakehouse. A light wood sorrel soup is next on the agenda followed by the main course, Mushroom Bourguignon. Dessert will be provided by The Black Angus Bakery while beverages will include craft beer from Black Swan Brewery and wines from Niagara. An Autumn afternoon can't get better than this.

To get a sense of what we mean you can read this piece in The Windsor Star by Laura Brehaut.

Start time: 9:45 am
Where: Packham Sports Complex
Cost: $75 per person.

Tickets can be purchased through internet transfer or PayPal. For more information phone 519-271-3726 or email us at pucksplenty@gmail.com

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September 15th

15 tickets available.

The Pink Bottom Mushroom

Also known as The Field Mushroom, the Pink Bottom is one of the more meatier fungi found in late Summer and Autumn. They can be found in fields and roadsides and are typified by their pink gills that eventually turn dark brown with age. Like many wild mushrooms they are better harvested when young. They are fabulous in soups and stews, both stem and cap, and can be roasted on the grill with a slight coating of olive oil. We will be searching for these right here in Stratford before moving on to trails fifteen minutes from town to collect other wild fungi such as Lactarius Delicious, Oysters, Velvet Foot, Gem Studded and more.

Find out why Marriott International listed Puck's Plenty as one of the "Top 10 Adventures to Have this Summer".

Start time: 10:00 am. Duration: approx. 3hrs
Where: 96 Birmingham Street, Stratford, Ontario N5A 2S9
Cost: $35.00/person

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September 21st

15 tickets available.

The Bear's Head Mushroom

The Bear's Head is a member of the Hericiaceae family, or Tooth Fungi, and is found on living and dead deciduous hardwood trees. Found young they are considered a delicacy and labeled as "choice" by many chefs worldwide. They pair well with potatoes, leeks, meats, truffle butter, and apples. But take care as they do not have a shelf life and should be prepared the same day they are found. Besides the Bear's Head we will also be searching for other mushrooms such as Comb Tooth, Summer Oysters, a variety of Boletes, Honey Mushrooms and more. Also included will be wild edible plants and herbs like Wood Sorrel, Wild Ginger and Wild Watercress.

Start time: 10:00 am. Duration: approx. 3hrs
Where: 96 Birmingham Street, Stratford, Ontario N5A 2S9
Cost: $35.00/person

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September 22nd

15 tickets available.

The Comb Tooth

When you're walking through the forest and come across a branched, whitish mass on a fallen log you might think it was a patch of Winter out of nowhere. In reality it would be the Comb Tooth, another choice mushroom that has a melt in your mouth flavour. Like the Bear's Head they have no real shelf life so they should be consumed the day you find them. They can be anywhere between six to ten inches in length which would give anyone a sizeable meal. You can't find mushrooms like this in the produce section of stores and you will not experience a taste like this unless you go to the wild. Along with the Comb Tooth we will be searching for Bear's Head (another tooth fungi), Honey Mushrooms, Summer Oysters and much more.

Start time: 10:00 am. Duration: approx. 3hrs
Where: 96 Birmingham Street, Stratford, Ontario N5A 2S9
Cost: $35.00/person

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September 28th

15 tickets available.

Lepista Irina

One of the more exciting new finds of 2018 is the Lepista Irina, a large, meaty mushroom that inhabits forest floors from mid-September through the end of the season in November. Like most mushrooms the younger the better for taste. But there's something about the Lepistra that delays decay which means individual mushrooms will be around for some time. With most "choice" wild edible mushrooms there is a sweetness about them. Moreover, they are quite abundant.

We're off to the trails and along with the Lepistas we will be searching for Blewits (Lepista Nuda), Tooth Fungi and both Pear Shaped and Gem Studded Puffballs.

Marriott International listed Puck's Plenty as one of the "Top 10 Adventures to Have this Summer". Join us and find out why!

Start time: 10:00 am. Duration: approx. 3hrs
Where: 96 Birmingham Street, Stratford, Ontario N5A 2S9
Cost: $35.00/person

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September 29th

15 tickets available.

Shrimp of the Woods

Also known as Aborted Entoloma, the Shrimp of the Woods is easily identified (some say they look like popcorn) and quite numerous throughout the Autumn. They are quite special only because of the transformation that takes place especially when they grown alongside or close to Honey Mushrooms. Their "aborting" if you will, consists of abandoning their typical mushroom shape (cap and stem) into what you see in the photo. Not to worry. Their taste is remarkable and are best sauteed to appreciate their culinary benefits. Here's a reciipe from Forager Chef you might want to try: Blackened Shrimp of the Woods.

One of the best hunting grounds for these mushrooms and more is Sudden Tract just outside of Cambridge, Ontario. Join us and find out why.

Start time: 10:30 am. Duration: approx. 3hrs
Where: 1841 Spragues Rd, Cambridge, ON N1R 5S5
Cost: $35.00/person

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