Experience Mushroom Harvest Season in Northern California
As the flavors of fall arrive in Northern California’s Mendocino County so does the annual crop of coveted candy cap, chanterelle, porcini and hedgehog mushrooms. Straddling historic Highways 1 and 101 with nearly 2,500 square miles of live oak and stately redwood groves, the region is a natural hotspot for some 3,000 mushroom varieties, 500 of which are edible. The annual haul is nothing short of historic, nurturing nirvana for local chefs, winemakers and fungi foragers.
It’s a full belly experience this November as Mendocino’s annual Harvest Festival kicks into gear. Add in a variety of top-shelf wine events, farmer’s markets, cannabis events, hotel deals and 24 state and national parks to cut a chanterelle path and the seasonal salute is nothing short of fantastic. The event is county wide and runs from October 27 to November 12, 2023. Additionally, a variety of hotel packages are available throughout the Harvest Festival including the new Nicholson House in Mendocino village, ocean-friendly Hotel Breakers in Gualala, Fort Bragg’s Beachcomber Motel and the vintage Andiron Seaside Inn and Cabins. For a cannabis-friendly stay, check into the elegant Madrones in wine-centric Anderson Valley for a next-level experience set in bucolic rose gardens. Below are some of the experiences available for travelers to the area.
Take a magical mushroom ride
Take a ride back in time through old-growth redwoods and pristine wilderness aboard the historic Skunk Train (1885). The 14-mile loop departs from Fort Bragg traversing Pudding Creek Estuary before landing front and center at the new trestle pavilion at Glen Blair Junction. On tap are more than a dozen wineries pouring Mendocino AVA’s award-winning juice, a cache of local chefs crafting mushroom-infused edibles, whiskey tastings with a local master distiller, educational fireside chats and a network of nature trails to track and treasure the annual haul. Details: Saturday November 4, 2023; 11:30 am – 3:30 pm, Fort Bragg, California., $180.00/person.
Explore local forests and meadows
Join local mycological enthusiast Adrienne Long for an exploration experience. Staged at the Stanford Inn by the Sea, the event kicks off with a mushroom talk followed by a foray into the local forests and meadows in search of the season’s top gems. Private tours also available. Details: November 3-5; November 10-12; 12:00 p.m., and 3:00 p.m., $55.00/person; www.stanfordinn.com.
Talk mushroom identification at Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens
The real deal rolls out this November at the stunning Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens, which each fall and winter plays host to more than 160 species of mushrooms. Join naturalist and mycologist Mario Abreu on an identification walk among the fungi on a fun-filled and informative afternoon. Details: November 11, 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m., $20.00/non-members; $10.00/members; www.gardenbythesea.org.
Walk on the wild side and enjoy mushroom refreshments
Pack the boots and a sense of adventure. Jug Handle Creek Farm and Nature Center will host guided mushroom identification walks with a large mushroom display and talk by expert Eric Schramm. Forays into nature will be led by local naturalists followed by toasty mushroom refreshments and nibbles featured in Alison Gardner and Merry Winslow’s Wild Mushroom cookbook. Details: November 12, 1:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.; $30.00/person; www.jughandlecreekfarm.org.
Taste mushroom-inspired cuisine and signature dishes
From the annual epic Mushroom & Beer Dinner to a foray with Mr. Fungi at the Michelin two-star Harbor House Inn, chefs throughout the county are firing up the stoves for a seasonal repast packed with exotic flavors. Belly up to the six-course fungi-forward diner at the legendary Little River Inn, where Chef Marc Dym will deliver a savory repast paired with a thought-provoking line-up of brews from Russian River Brewing Company. Nearby, Stanford Inn’s Ravens restaurant rolls out a Medicinal Mushroom Breakfast while Ukiah’s Left Coast Seafood joins Graziano Family of Wines for a multi-course extravaganza showcasing foods freshly-harvested from farm, land and sea. Gualala’s Mar Vista Farm + Wine Dinner is a new addition this year, focused on the season’s top bounty paired with Murder Ridge Winery’s award-winning wines. Hopland The Golden Pig is also on the roster as is the HarborView Bistro & Bar with an evening of wild mushroom dishes paired with Pinot; the bar will also be serving a signature Candy Cap Mushroom Old Fashioned throughout the festival, belly up!