93 replies to this topic

[kocos]

Thank you everyone! We went out again yesterday to a new location this time.
When picking a route to take through the forest I always try and check the given geological features, mainly if there is any chalky rock present in the area.
The hills around town are basically all chalk so there isnt really a problem with deciding where to go.
When there, one must look for suitable habitats. These can be found mainly with the help of indicator plants. These are plants that tend to grow in and around areas that produce truffles. If there is interest Ill log these plants and take pictures.

Once these areas are selected we go around in circles with me giving out commands constantly. Or the other alternative is to make the dog stay in a certain place, then go ahead out of sight and dig down a few truffles.
The places are marked and then the dog is taken away to a different location. I then usually play with her a few minutes then go back towards the hidden truffles while getting her to search.

Now the mushroom we found yesterday, she found directly before getting back to one of these training locations with the hidden truffles. Unfortunatly I was a bit late so she kinda chewed up the mushoom, no pictures this time. Then she found the ones hidden by me without a problem.

We found dozens of really good looking spots but Bodza didnt find anything. Its still really hard to focus her attention on the mushrooms cus she is just runing around completly mad, trailing every scent she comes across let that be human, floral or fungal. We still have a long way to go until she becomes a professional.

We are now waiting for the rains to come, a dogs nose is far more eficiant when the forest is wet. Its been dry and hot this week so our only chance would be to go out at dawn, but what can I do I like my sleep :D
So tomorow and the day after we will be out again. Lets hope she finds something!

On a side note its a lot of fun going around with her, especially when she hits a scent and starts searching around franticly till she finds the spot and starts digging. Its just soooo exciting, never know what she will find :D

Update on its way I hope!

[kocos]

Today me and Bodza went to our first organised truffle hunt. The local mushroom hunting club and one of the truffle clubs organised an outing to the local hills for some above and underground mushroom foraging.
I met up with one of the truffle hunters and his dog Kiwi :D Anyhow it turned out he was the the head of this truffle club and was very helpfull with answering the tons of questions I bombarded him with.
In short, his dog is simply unreal. We met up in the parking lot with the group then made our way over into the forest and gathered up for the starting words, etc. Kiwi already then found a truffle at our feet! Not a true truffle but an underground mushroom anyhow.
In a nutshell over the course of an hour she picked 5 different species of truffles and allies. Bodza was too busy runing around going up to people and stuff so she didnt find anything.

We gathered up after some time and my new "teacher" talked about the found mushrooms. When that was done we exchanged contacts and me and bodza went back into the forest. I enhanced my senses with some herbal stimulant:rasta: and soon after found a good spot. A small bump in the forest with big chalk rocks. In the bottom of this little bump the earth layer is thick and rich in humus. In a few moments bodza found T. excavatum and another one. I was thrilled yet again. There is just something exciting about finding these underground fungi. Never knowing what the dog smelled out. I only took these pictures unfortunatly...
So here is part of the group with my new "best friend" :lol: to the right.

http://mycotopia.net...=1&d=1286170983


The collected truffles

http://mycotopia.net...=1&d=1286170983


Here you can see T. aestivum, brumale, excavatum, then Rhizopogon sp, and a young Elaphomyces.

http://mycotopia.net...=1&d=1286170983


http://mycotopia.net...=1&d=1286170983


And finally here are the truffles Bodza found.

http://mycotopia.net...=1&d=1286170983


http://mycotopia.net...=1&d=1286170983


We are heading out again in a few minutes :)

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[Subbalteatus]

Ha ha bro that is something else. You guys are on fire and havin fun! Its always so cool to discover one or many of natures hidden treasures. Lights a fire thats for sure. I tend to be way to irresponsible with my time in the woods. Cant stop... Just figured out that theres some crystal digs around here and that will be some deffinate fun. Wish a dog could sniff those out : )

Anyway, this is a great thread! You take a lot of time to bring it home and share with others. Thats really awesome man. I know how much time it takes and looks like you put in much more than I do.

Peace and Thanks
Subbs.

[ethnobotanica]

Man! Koco's! You are filling me with mixed emotions! I'm overcome with inspiration from you, Bodza, and the amazing place you live, and how well you capture it to share with us all, that plus a strong surge of envy.;):lol:

Awesome work getting Bodza up to scratch in his first year.:)

Peace and love dude.:rasta:

[kocos]

Ha ha bro that is something else. You guys are on fire and havin fun! Its always so cool to discover one or many of natures hidden treasures. Lights a fire thats for sure. I tend to be way to irresponsible with my time in the woods. Cant stop... Just figured out that theres some crystal digs around here and that will be some deffinate fun. Wish a dog could sniff those out : )

Anyway, this is a great thread! You take a lot of time to bring it home and share with others. Thats really awesome man. I know how much time it takes and looks like you put in much more than I do.

Peace and Thanks
Subbs.

We sure had a very fungal year :lol: From the bountyfull spring morel hunting through the chants and boletes right into the truffles :D What can I say iam happy!
I simply feel its my duty to share these adventures with you fine people, regardless of how long it takes.
peace!

Man! Koco's! You are filling me with mixed emotions! I'm overcome with inspiration from you, Bodza, and the amazing place you live, and how well you capture it to share with us all, that plus a strong surge of envy.;):lol:

Awesome work getting Bodza up to scratch in his first year.:)

Peace and love dude.:rasta:

:lol: Iam loving how much your loving it man. You will have to visit sometime! Peace n luv back at ya! :D

[kocos]

This is the day we have been waiting for ladies and gents :amazed:

Yesterday Bodza not only found truffles, but altogether found 5 (yes 5!!) underground fungi species. We had an awesome time so i simply have to share the pictures from that day!

Our first truffle of the day, Tuber Excavatum
http://mycotopia.net...=1&d=1286468079

http://mycotopia.net...=1&d=1286468079

http://mycotopia.net...=1&d=1286468079

The habitat this mushroom was growing in
http://mycotopia.net...=1&d=1286468079

Panellus stipticus
http://mycotopia.net...=1&d=1286468079

http://mycotopia.net...=1&d=1286468079

http://mycotopia.net...=1&d=1286468079

A beautifull sweet chestnut tree!
http://mycotopia.net...=1&d=1286468079

http://mycotopia.net...=1&d=1286468079

http://mycotopia.net...=1&d=1286468079

This is an underground fungus called Genea, not sure of the exact species, perhaps Genea vittadini?
http://mycotopia.net...=1&d=1286468079

http://mycotopia.net...=1&d=1286468079

Leotia lubrica
http://mycotopia.net...=1&d=1286468079

http://mycotopia.net...=1&d=1286468079

Another excavatum
http://mycotopia.net...=1&d=1286468079

This is a truffle beatle, they feed on truffles!
http://mycotopia.net...=1&d=1286468079

Our first true Tuber aestivum!! :headbang: The summer truffle :headbang:
http://mycotopia.net...=1&d=1286468079

Its habitat
http://mycotopia.net...=1&d=1286468079

http://mycotopia.net...=1&d=1286468079

Our first Winter Truffle, Tuber brumale! :headbang:
http://mycotopia.net...=1&d=1286468079

http://mycotopia.net...=1&d=1286468079

Another excavatum
http://mycotopia.net...=1&d=1286468079
Lactarius deliciosus
http://mycotopia.net...=1&d=1286468079

http://mycotopia.net...=1&d=1286468079

http://mycotopia.net...=1&d=1286468079
Cortinarius sp
http://mycotopia.net...=1&d=1286468079

http://mycotopia.net...=1&d=1286468079
Hygrophorus eburneus
http://mycotopia.net...=1&d=1286468079

http://mycotopia.net...=1&d=1286468079

http://mycotopia.net...=1&d=1286468079
Armillaria melae
http://mycotopia.net...=1&d=1286468079

http://mycotopia.net...=1&d=1286468079

http://mycotopia.net...=1&d=1286468079

http://mycotopia.net...=1&d=1286468079
Laccaria laccata
http://mycotopia.net...=1&d=1286468079

http://mycotopia.net...=1&d=1286468079

http://mycotopia.net...=1&d=1286468079

http://mycotopia.net...=1&d=1286468079
Helvella sp
http://mycotopia.net...=1&d=1286468079
An ancient sweet chestnut tree, it only had two limbs still alive but never the less it dropped a few hundred pounds of chestnuts just for us :lol:
http://mycotopia.net...=1&d=1286468463

http://mycotopia.net...=1&d=1286468463

http://mycotopia.net...=1&d=1286468463

The five species side by side with a Gauteria sp to the right
http://mycotopia.net...=1&d=1286468463

T. brumale
http://mycotopia.net...=1&d=1286468463

T. aestivum
http://mycotopia.net...=1&d=1286468463

brumale crosssection
http://mycotopia.net...=1&d=1286468463
brumale and aestivum side by side
http://mycotopia.net...=1&d=1286468463

T. excavatum
http://mycotopia.net...=1&d=1286469309

Gauteria sp
http://mycotopia.net...=1&d=1286469309

http://mycotopia.net...=1&d=1286469309

http://mycotopia.net...=1&d=1286469309

The total haul!
http://mycotopia.net...=1&d=1286469309

Going out again tomorow!

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[Dr.Hallucination]

I don't know how I missed this thread,but holy cow kocos,it is simply brilliant.:eusa_clap

[kocos]

I don't know how I missed this thread,but holy cow kocos,it is simply brilliant.:eusa_clap

Thanks bro! We had an awesome day again today! We found some bigguns! :rasta:

Pics later tonight!

[kocos]

Iam simply speechless as to how good my dog is.

We went to a new spot today, I hiked around that area as a teen and know it quite well. We were looking around in the forest, finding the usual T. excavatum. I then decided to climb up a small hill to take a look around, and perhaps spot a better place to check out.

On our way up the slope, we actually passed through a rather good looking forest, ash and oak, hardly any undergrowth, just rich humus and leaf litter.
Anyhow, halfway up the hill I stopped to rest, and asked bodza to search, she looked at me and dropped her head to the side with a questioning gaze, I repeated the command and she fucking stood up, and dug into the leaf liter, with one dig, something big and black rolled out of the ground and started rolling down hill :lol:
We ran after it and soon found a huge summer truffle about the size of a tennis ball, or a bit smaller. We were both extatic!!!! :amazed:

I let her calm down, she got a treat and we continued! All in all she found 3 huge truffles, a few old ones we left behind, and a few smaller ripe specimens.

I LOVE THIS DOG! :heart:

I also found a huge reishi, prolly one of the biggest ones Ive seen in person, and a lonely late King bolete!


Now that its not raining and the days are really sunny, one must go out early, to catch the dawn, dew! Smells rise from the ground with the evaporating dew, thus making the dogs job much easier!


http://mycotopia.net...=1&d=1286558135


http://mycotopia.net...=1&d=1286558135


http://mycotopia.net...=1&d=1286558135


The second truffle of the day, didnt take a pic of the one that rolled down the hill.

http://mycotopia.net...=1&d=1286558135


http://mycotopia.net...=1&d=1286558135


http://mycotopia.net...=1&d=1286558135


The habitat

http://mycotopia.net...=1&d=1286558135


http://mycotopia.net...=1&d=1286558135


Another pretty specimen with a spikey peridium

http://mycotopia.net...=1&d=1286558135


http://mycotopia.net...=1&d=1286558243


Its habitat, you can still see the mushroom

http://mycotopia.net...=1&d=1286558243


http://mycotopia.net...=1&d=1286558243


There it is :D

http://mycotopia.net...=1&d=1286558243


It looks small but, I literally had to dig it out!

http://mycotopia.net...=1&d=1286558243


The smaller one is about the size of a golfball, a bit bigger. The big one is about the size of a tennis ball!

http://mycotopia.net...=1&d=1286558243


http://mycotopia.net...=1&d=1286558243


Then we found a huge reishi, bigest one yet!

http://mycotopia.net...=1&d=1286558243


Todays treasures!! I even found a king bolete!

http://mycotopia.net...=1&d=1286558243


http://mycotopia.net...=1&d=1286558243


http://mycotopia.net...=1&d=1286558243


What a day!!! Now I have to look for recepies! :D

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[groovy-uv]

i never get tired of looking at this thread.

bump:)

[JohnDoe]

im speechless bro...i literally could feel your excitement as i read your thread :D a few weeks and i'll join you in your truffle endeavour my friend :headbang:

[vrooota]

This is such a great thread, kocos you should write a book about your truffle adventures complete with your great photos. I think the culinary and nature people would dig this kind of stuff as much as us myco heads do. Love the dog btw ... :)

[Nobody]

Wow, fantastic thread kocos! Your pics are amazing. The pup is doing great for being so young, you trained her well! She's very pretty. If truffles weren't enough, you found a Reishi and a King Bolete too, that's a find and a half right there! :bow:

[kocos]

i never get tired of looking at this thread.

bump:)

Thanks man! ;)

im speechless bro...i literally could feel your excitement as i read your thread :D a few weeks and i'll join you in your truffle endeavour my friend :headbang:

Right on bro, I hope you make it to a hunt!

This is such a great thread, kocos you should write a book about your truffle adventures complete with your great photos. I think the culinary and nature people would dig this kind of stuff as much as us myco heads do. Love the dog btw ... :)

:lol: Well now that would be something. I was actually thinking of wrighting up a "book" we shall see!

Wow, fantastic thread kocos! Your pics are amazing. The pup is doing great for being so young, you trained her well! She's very pretty. If truffles weren't enough, you found a Reishi and a King Bolete too, that's a find and a half right there! :bow:

Thanks man! It sure was a great day, out. Ive since made truffle oil, truffle cheeze, and liver mouse with truffle. Iam going to be posting the recepies and pictures later on!

[paph]

Awesome stuff as always my friend!!!:bow::bow::bow:

Bodza really seems to have the nose for those bad boys.:headbang:

I'm gonna have to try and get over there to visit at some point.:)

Peace and love to you bro.

[taliesin]

Kocos you and Bodza :headbang::headbang::headbang::headbang::headbang:

I don't know what else to say bro every time you post I drool amazing pics, beautiful scenery and a haul fit for a king :bow::bow:

[kocos]

Awesome stuff as always my friend!!!:bow::bow::bow:

Bodza really seems to have the nose for those bad boys.:headbang:

I'm gonna have to try and get over there to visit at some point.:)

Peace and love to you bro.

Thanks bro :)

You really do have to come and visit sometime ;)

Kocos you and Bodza :headbang::headbang::headbang::headbang::headbang:

I don't know what else to say bro every time you post I drool amazing pics, beautiful scenery and a haul fit for a king :bow::bow:

:lol: Thanks bro :D Just wait till you see this next set of pics!


So the promised pictures and recepies!

These are the truffles after being cleaned. I just scrubbed them with a brush under runing water.
http://mycotopia.net...=1&d=1286898632

http://mycotopia.net...=1&d=1286898632

The peridium up close
http://mycotopia.net...=1&d=1286898632

http://mycotopia.net...=1&d=1286898632

The flesh
http://mycotopia.net...=1&d=1286898632

Some pictures of last weekends hike with Ms. Kocos
http://mycotopia.net...=1&d=1286898632

http://mycotopia.net...=1&d=1286898632

http://mycotopia.net...=1&d=1286898632

We found a few truffles this day about this size :)
http://mycotopia.net...=1&d=1286898999

A Phallus sp
http://mycotopia.net...=1&d=1286898999

http://mycotopia.net...=1&d=1286898999

Not sure how this pictures got in here but its basically the aimless slimy wandering of an intoxicated slug, this is beside one of my woodie beds :lol:
Looks like it went a bit overboard
http://mycotopia.net...=1&d=1286898999

A cute cat
http://mycotopia.net...=1&d=1286898999

http://mycotopia.net...=1&d=1286898999


Ok and here goes the cooking. First recepie is "Brie with truffles"

You will need one or two brie or camambert cheez's, and a truffle about 40-60 grams.
http://mycotopia.net...=1&d=1286898999

With a sharp knife you cut the cheeze into three slices
http://mycotopia.net...=1&d=1286898999

Then you either take a really sharp knife or better yet a truffle slicer as seen above and make aprox 2mm thin slices of the truffle
http://mycotopia.net...=1&d=1286898999
Carefully place the thin slices on the cheese trying to cover as much as possible
http://mycotopia.net...=1&d=1286898999
Once done we place the midle slice on
http://mycotopia.net...=1&d=1286898999

Look at this beauty :loveeyes:
http://mycotopia.net...=1&d=1286898999

http://mycotopia.net...=1&d=1286898999

And the third layer
http://mycotopia.net...=1&d=1286898999

http://mycotopia.net...=1&d=1286898999

Once done the they are packed back up and put back in fridge for atleast 24 hours. Once ready serve with white wine and grapes, it is unreal!
http://mycotopia.net...=1&d=1286898999

http://mycotopia.net...=1&d=1286898999

http://mycotopia.net...=1&d=1286898999

Next recpepie may seem a bit strange looking but trust me it is also incredibly good! You will need 600 grams chicken liver without hearts, 200 grams butter, 60 grams truffles, 2 spoons of porto, salt, pepper and dry white wine
http://mycotopia.net...=1&d=1286898999

Clean the liver then cook it in white wine for three minutes, on high!
http://mycotopia.net...=1&d=1286898999

Take the liver out and ad a bit of the wine to them together with the butter, I used some truffle butter left over from training the dog just to give the thing an extra kick :D
http://mycotopia.net...=1&d=1286898999

Start mashing the liver up with the butter, and add the porto, the salt and pepper.

http://mycotopia.net...=1&d=1286898999

Finally add the truffles. This has to be grated finelly. I was actuallly so sad to grate this beauty down, it weighed 69 grams :)
http://mycotopia.net...=1&d=1286899192

http://mycotopia.net...=1&d=1286899192

http://mycotopia.net...=1&d=1286899192

Then we mix the whole thing up reall well and allow it to cool.
http://mycotopia.net...=1&d=1286899192

Once cool it can be put into smaller boxes for storage. If you want to keep these for a long time, you can use some duck fat to make a thin layer on top thus protecting the liver mouse.
http://mycotopia.net...=1&d=1286899192

We had some salad with truffles
http://mycotopia.net...=1&d=1286899192

http://mycotopia.net...=1&d=1286899192


And the last recepie is truffle oil. Really simple! Ingredients, truffles, and about three times the truffles weight in oil. Iam using grapeseed oil, as that doesnt really have a smell or flavour of its own.
http://mycotopia.net...=1&d=1286899192

We place truffles in clean jar,
http://mycotopia.net...=1&d=1286899192

And pour oil over them
http://mycotopia.net...=1&d=1286899192

http://mycotopia.net...=1&d=1286899192

http://mycotopia.net...=1&d=1286899192

http://mycotopia.net...=1&d=1286899192

Thats it! We allow this to stand at 10 c for 8 days, agitating them every day to get the aromas mixed in properly! Bon apetite!
http://mycotopia.net...=1&d=1286899192

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[kocos]

Bodza and me had a great day again. Found a new place with a great little forest just a few square km. I actually ran out of reward snacks so we had to call it a day. Here is the haul :)

So here is the habitat. Large oak trees, with acacias and other smaller trees/shrubs bellow. No shorter undergrowth which is good!
http://mycotopia.net...=1&d=1287328331

She was finding truffles all the time!
http://mycotopia.net...=1&d=1287328331

http://mycotopia.net...=1&d=1287328331

http://mycotopia.net...=1&d=1287328331

http://mycotopia.net...=1&d=1287328331

The first area yielded this, then we went on in the same forest
http://mycotopia.net...=1&d=1287328331


And found more and more :D
http://mycotopia.net...=1&d=1287328331


http://mycotopia.net...=1&d=1287328331

http://mycotopia.net...=1&d=1287328331



http://mycotopia.net...=1&d=1287328331

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[microscopeman]

I always see people eating small slices of this fungi. Is the taste really potent? Could you just wash one off and pop the whole thing in your mouth?

[kocos]

I always see people eating small slices of this fungi. Is the taste really potent? Could you just wash one off and pop the whole thing in your mouth?

Well I wouldnt exactly call it potent. The smell and taste is strong, really strong. I have like 200-300 grams now at home and our fridge stinks of truffles. Hell even our milk tastes and smells like truffles.
There are more potent truffles like T. melanosporum which could be descibed as potent. A single slice can flavor a bottle of oil or a dish.