News from firefly grill

May 2010

Issue No.5

News from the firefly

Greetings!

Many special things happening at the firefly this month but we're most excited about our Mushroom Tasting! It's a great opportunity to learn about the land around us from one of the top experts in the field. The garden is growing, the mushrooms are in season and the sun is shining! Thanks to our fireflies for all of your patronage through the winter. We appreciate you!

So you're a mycophagist...

The Final Four, the Kentucky Derby, the NFL draft- they're much discussed this time of year. But probably the most popular springtime conversation around Effingham surrounds morel mushrooms. It's not uncommon to hear faint whisperings, those guarded conversations asking "have you seen any yet" and the rumors swirling about the brimming bags some lucky souls brought home. From the very young to the very old, morel mushrooms hold a fascination for many. Some say it's the unique taste. Others say it's the thrill of the hunt. For many it's probably a combination of both. And for most, morel mushroom hunting is springtime rite of passage.

Mushrooms are fungi that grow in almost any habitat in the U.S. They can inhabit everything from bare soil to living and dead trees and are often found in river bottoms, moist woodlands, old orchards, and forests. Temperature and rainfall determine their arrival, but in most areas, mushrooms sprout in early to mid-spring and continue into fall. Although many people swear they sprout overnight, most mushrooms require several days for them to develop to maturity. Water absorption causes them to rapidly swell, which is probably why we like to think that things that happen quickly have "mushroomed".

Mushrooms are most popular in Chinese, Japanese and European cooking, and continue to grow in popularity in the U.S. as more of them are cultivated commercially. Shiitake, Portabella, Oyster, Button, Enoki and more than 15 other varieties are raised commercially. In the wild, there are thousands of varieties. Many of them are edible, but some are deadly. As any mushroom hunter can attest, a forager has to know the good from the bad. Locally, edible wild mushrooms include chanterelles, morels, oyster mushrooms and puffballs, all of which are fairly Joe McFarland basket

easy to identify if you have some basic training and perhaps a good mushroom guide. Wild mushrooms should never be eaten raw, as some of them contain toxins (as well as some little buggers) that are destroyed in cooking. A decades-old misconception suggests mushrooms don't offer much in nutritional value. The fact is, in addition to tasting great, some mushrooms are packed with iron and vitamins and actually have more protein than beans (one commercially available meat substitute-Quorn-is made from fungi). They're also a good source of fiber.

We enjoy a variety of mushrooms at the firefly, the majority of which are wild, but are professionally foraged. These foragers are trained experts who supply our sources with fresh fungi. And just in case you were wondering, if you've eaten a mushroom, you are a mycophagists. People who study mushrooms are known as mycologists. And the act of collecting them is known simply as mushroom hunting or mushrooming. Go figure.

Salute Your Mom!

She bandaged our scrapes, nursed us when we were sick, and eased our fears as we grew up. She spent countless hours counseling, many consoling, and always had a hug and kiss ready.

She encouraged us, did our laundry (at least when we were young), cooked endless meals, and taught us right from wrong. Whether you call her mother, mom, or even madre, Mother's Day is a day to honor and thank our mothers for all that they have done for us.

The firefly grill is pleased to host our annual Mother's Day Brunch on Sunday, May 9. Featuring fresh fruit crepes, Nueskies Ham & Eggs, house-smoked salmon, Braised Brabernt Farms lamb hash, Bananas Foster french toast and much, much more, all for the incredible price of $19.95 per adult, $4.99 kids menu. As a special treat the firefly will honor all moms with a half-priced desserts! Complete menu is on the website, www.ffgrill.com

Meet the Mushroom Man!

Thursday, May 27th, Joe, McFarland, a.ka. "The Mushroom Man" joins the firefly for an incredible evening of learning and dining. Mushroom enthusiast, Mycology instructor and author of "Edible Wild Mushrooms of Illinois and Surrounding States", Joe will present an evening of mushrooms to accompany our special Mushroom Tasting Dinner.

Springtime means Morels, during summer and fall, everything from chanterelles to chicken Mushrooms to Parasol Mushrooms to the beloved Black Trumpet-which he thinks is the best edible mushroom in Illinois--can be found in pretty good

One of Niall's creations...

quantity. The tasting menu will feature Morels and Black Trumpets, and Joe will teach us everything we've ever wanted to know (and more) about wild mushrooms in our area.

Kristie wants everyone to know that Joe's enthusiasm for mushrooms is AMAZING and his personality infectious. Couple that with a beautiful menu and some wonderful wines and it will be an unbelievable evening, so be sure to mark Thursday, May 27 on your calendar. The menu will be on the website as soon as it's finalized. Please call to make reservations as space is limited, 217-342-2002. Find out more about Illinois Mushrooms by visiting Joe's website.

The hard part is over...

now you can celebrate!

We'll make your celebration - whether lunch, dinner, or a small party - stress-free and delicious. Spend time as a family, celebrate your graduate's accomplishments and let us make your day extra special.

Mother's Day and several area graduations fall on the weekend of Sat/Sun May 8 and 9, so please call to reserve your table! 217-342-2002.

Congratulations Mr. & Mrs Pensoneau from New Berlin, Illinois, the lucky winners of a gift certificate in our monthly drawing for filling out and returning a firefly survey. The Pensoneaus recently discovered us on one of their frequent drives to southeastern Illinois, telling us "We fell in love with it immediately, and now consider it a must stop on every drive." That is what we love to hear!

Sincerely,

Kristie & Niall Campbell
firefly grill

See our pics at shutterfly!