Honshemeji and Maitake Mushrooms in Philly?  Spring Garden Market

Honshemeji and Maitake Mushrooms in Philly? Spring Garden Market

Spring Garden Market may just solve all mushroom issues you have.  Like the problem that shitakes at the grocery are so expensive and old.  Like the problem that your recipe is calling for a mushroom you can’t find.  Like you are trying to make something that just smacks of asian restaurants…

I’ve been using more and more mushrooms in my cooking since hitting Philadelphia this year. King Oyster mushrooms, also known as Royal Trumpet or French Horn mushrooms, have been a staple for a number of years, even finding a favorite brand, Hokto.  We used to hunt these big daddy mushrooms all over NY’s Hudson Valley when located there.  (Hint, they are usually in New Paltz at New Paltz Health & Nutrition Center, in the plaza).

First time in Spring Garden Market, you will be in love with the huge size and depth of its produce, sauces, drinks, rices, the smell of its fish, and how it is so different then other places you go for food.  But if you ignore the fish, and stick around and check it out, this place is a vegetarian gold mine.  Soy products, vegetarian sauces, almond creamers, dumpling wrappers, they’re all here for you.  Just go there…

But back to their mushrooms.  They are in the back room, the produce and seafood room, on the back wall of the front room.  Maitake, Shitake, White and Brown Honshimeji (beech), Oyster, King Oyster (Royal Trumpet), etc.  They even started carrying our favorite brand, Hokto, which is organic too.

I hope to be writting soon about how I use all these mushrooms at home.  In the meantime, I have written a few words about a great stew I made with the Honshimeji (Beech) mushrooms, using a recipe from a great cookbook called Vedge.

The Spring Garden Market is conveniently located at 400 Spring Garden St, between the Old City and Northern Liberties neighborhoods in Philadelphia.  It’s actually easy to get to from Interstate 95, and has it’s own parking lot in back.