WHAT IS AN ENOKI MUSHROOM?

This popular Japanese mushroom grows in tall, thin clusters almost reminiscent of bamboo trees.  They are also known as Golden Needle or Velvet Foot mushrooms (which sound like an awesome Sunday morning Kung Fu movie drive-in T.V. marathon special).  These fungi tend to favor the enoki (or hackberry) tree along with ash or mulberry in the wild.  The wild versions are dark brown in appearance vs. the pale white color of the cultivated versions.

WHY ARE ENOKI MUSHROOMS GOOD FOR YOU?

Well, they pack more fiber then a cabbage, are loaded with protein and offer the same numerous health benefits that other mushrooms do.  But to see a more detailed breakdown check out this link here!

WHEN ARE ENOKI MUSHROOMS IN SEASON?

It is now a popular commercial item and can be purchased year-round.

HOW SHOULD ENOKI MUSHROOMS BE STORED?

Same as with other mushrooms – put in a zip-lock bag with a paper towel and store in your refrigerator for up to a week.  Put in a location that has good air circulation.

A FAMOUS CELEBRITY HAD A TORRID AFFAIR WITH A MUSHROOM?

So in writing this section, I try to find something marginally related to the topic at hand but still hopefully interesting – a petite pause in the onslaught of dry food details (this is a carrot, don’t eat the skin raw you knucklehead it’s astringent, etc.).  But when I typed search words like “Enoki, scandal” the comedian Kevin Hart kept coming up.  I figured I’d find something like famous chef mistakes morels for hen of the woods or some such.  Turns out that Mr. Hart is so famous that his wife, whose name is similar, overwhelms search engine results on a mushroom!  Wow that sucks.