The Bearded Tooth

   I found this beauty while taking a quick walk in a wooded area.  He was on the end of a decaying log and though I was looking primarily for sulfur shelf, this was a nice consolation prize.  The bearded tooth mushroom is one of those oddities that a shroomer comes across once in a while, even if he/she is not looking for it.  Also known as the Lion’s Mane,  Bear’s Head Tooth, and Comb Tooth it has a very distinctive look.  It is in the genus Hericium and some texts say there are three separate species and these are nearly indistinguishable from each other.  It is very distinctive and nothing looks quite like it.   There are no poisonous look alikes and is considered a choice edible by many.  With no poisonous look alikes, an excellent forage mushroom for beginners.  We find it a strong tasting mushroom, and the texts say younger specimens are bland with older specimens becoming sour.  Perhaps we are getting older specimens or not preparing them soon enough, but we find this mushroom pleasant overall even if it has a strong flavor.
   We wound up sauteing him and some puffballs in olive oil with some garlic and onion.  We mixed in a few green tomatoes and peppers from our garden all in a curry sauce.  We had this concoction over some brown rice...delicious.

As with all foraged foods, do not eat anything unless you are 100% sure of what it is.