MENDOCINO COUNTY, Calif. -- (June 4, 2009) – Every fall in Northern California’s Mendocino County, something magical happens when it rains – delicious, delectable mushrooms appear. From October through January, more than 3,000 mushroom varieties will pop up, and of these, over 500 are edible and 20 are readily identifiable – including the rare candy cap mushroom, with its intense maple-syrup flavor, that grows only along the northern coast of California.

The highlight of mushroom season is Mendocino County’s annual Mushroom Festival (this year from Friday, November 6 through Sunday, November 15), with everything from mushroom dinners, wine- and beer-pairing workshops, and musical performances to exhibits, guided mushroom foraging walks and much more.

Ryane Snow, a member of the Mycological Society and a well-known local leader of mushroom identification walks, states, “We have so many incredible varieties of mushrooms that are grown in Mendocino County, and everyone in the community gets involved in showcasing this great local bounty. As more people discover the health benefits of mushrooms, as well as how versatile and delicious they are to cook with, the interest in our festival is growing.”

During mushroom season, Snow and others offer identification walks, and in addition to the precious candy cap, mushroom hunters can score chanterelles, porcinis, morels and hedgehogs –and the less adventurous can sample these same mushroom varieties on special mushroom tasting menus throughout the county.

Create your own mushroom adventure by attending any (or all!) of the following:

Skunk Train’s Wine & Mushroom Adventure – Willits, CA
Saturday, November 7, 2009, 11:00AM – 4:30PM
All Aboard the Skunk Train! Enjoy Mendocino County wines poured by local wineries, mushroom appetizers, and entertainment while you travel through towering trees and watch the wildlife along the Noyo River. Disembark at Camp Mendocino (the halfway point) and enjoy more mushroom goodies whipped up by a famous local chef. Proceeds benefit the Howard Hospital Foundation, the 1st “green” rural hospital in the country! Pricing TBD. For additional information/tickets: www.howardfoundation.org or www.skunktrain.com

Mendocino Hotel’s Navarro Winemaker Dinner – Mendocino Village, CA
Saturday, November 7, 6:00PM
Participants will enjoy fabulous local wines from Navarro Vineyards, along with a multi-course meal featuring local gourmet mushrooms prepared by Joe Brown, Executive Chef at Mendocino Hotel. Educational mushroom display and lecture by local fungi expert Eric Schramm. Hors D’Oeuvres at 6 p.m. followed by dinner at 7PM Cost is $95 per person. To make a reservation, please call
800-548-0513. Check www.mendocinohotel.com as the event date draws near to see the actual menu.

Albion River Inn’s Mushroom Cooking Class – Albion, CA
Tuesday, November 10, 2009, 11:30AM – 3:30PM
Experience the creative culinary style of Executive Chef Stephen Smith as he demonstrates delectable wild & cultivated mushroom recipes for this 5-course, mushroom-inspired cooking class. Local wild mushroom expert Don Kowalski will join Chef Smith to give a demonstration on how to identify our coast's wild mushroom harvest. Each participant receives a full set of class recipes with step-by- step instructions. $80 per person, limited to 20 people. Call 800-479-7944 or visit www.albionriverinn.com/events to make a reservation.

MacCallum House Inn’s Wild Mushroom Winemaker Dinner – Mendocino Village, CA
Thursday, November 12, 6:30PM – 9:00PM
Don't miss our 10th Annual Wild Mushroom Winemaker Dinner with Executive Chef Alan Kantor, mushroom expert Eric Schramm and winemaker Greg Graziano. Make advance reservations for one of the most popular event of the festival. $100 per person, not including tax and gratuity. Cocktail hour begins at 6:30 p.m. followed by dinner at 7 p.m. To make reservations call
707-937-0289. Check www.maccallumhouse.com as the event date draws near to see the detailed menu.

Little River Inn’s Mushroom and Belgian Beer Dinner – Little River, CA
Friday, November 13, 6:30PM – 9:00PM
Little River Inn Executive Chef, Marc Dym, and Russian River Brewing Company Brew Master, Vinnie Cilurzo, create a perfectly paired five-course menu. Each dish features a different local mushroom and Belgian-style ale. Chef Marc will share his culinary secrets while Brew Master Vinnie takes you through the world of Belgian brews. $85 per person. Visit www.littleriverinn.com or call 1-888-INN-LOVE to make a reservation.

St. Anthony's Annual Wine & Mushroom Event – Mendocino Village
Saturday, November 14, 1:00PM – 5:00PM
The event at St. Anthony's Church offers guests a full afternoon of delicious tastes. Nine wineries will pour their best vintages, 8 restaurants will whip up their own mushroom soup recipe for tasting and judging, and homemade mushroom appetizers will be passed. Mushroom expert Eric Schramm will be on hand with examples of mushroom varieties, and lots of enticements will fill the silent auction tables. $25 per person which includes a commemorative wine glass. Proceeds benefit the coastal community. For more information go to www.stanthonysofmendocino.com.

Other Mushroom Events of Interest:

Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens Mushroom Identification & Cultivation Workshops
Begin your journey to becoming a fungophile! Staff naturalist Mario Abreu will be holding two mushroom identification workshops – Saturday, Nov. 7 and Saturday, Nov. 21 from 10AM – 1PM. Workshops are limited to 20 people. On Saturday, November 14, 2009 from 11AM – 2PM, John Richardson of Noyo Hill Farm will lead a hands-on workshop in mushroom cultivation for beginners. Attendees will receive an inoculated bag to bring home to assist in producing their own mushrooms. $10 per class. Reserve a spot in any of the classes by calling 707-964-4352 x 23 or visiting www.gardenbythesea.org.

Liquid Fusion Kayaking is offering “Mushroom Paddles” along the Noyo River. Emphasis is on seeking out and identifying the wild mushrooms along the banks of the river. Mushroom Paddles will depart from Noyo Harbor in Fort Bragg on November 7, 8, 14, and 15 at 1PM. Approximately 2 hours long. $60/person. No experience necessary and all kayaking gear is included. Reservations are required and paddle will happen rain or shine (waterproof gear is included in the tour). Other dates and times are available by appointment. Call (707)962-1623 or visit www.liquidfusionkayak.com for further information.

In addition, Ryane Snow, Ph.D., Mendocino County’s famed mushroom expert, will be leading numerous educational activities during the Mushroom Festival:

From Forest to Table Workshop - November 7 & 14
Stanford Inn by the Sea – Mendocino, CA – 12:00PM to 5:00PM
Snow will educate participants about the importance of mushrooms to the ecology of the forest, their medicinal properties, and their many uses in the world of gastronomy. Participants are given a brief, hands-on introduction to local fungi, followed by a 2-hour foraging walk in the woods, then back to the Stanford Inn for a tutorial on cleaning, prepping, and preparing mushrooms. The day culminates with a lunch featuring the bounty gathered that day! Class is limited to 30 people and is $60 per person. Call 800-331-8884 or visit www.stanfordinn.com to make a reservation.

Medicinal Mushrooms Workshop - November 8
Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens – Fort Bragg - 9:30AM – 11:30AM
Often the first question about a new mushroom is "Is it edible?" But a more interesting question is "How can this mushroom help my health?" Snow, who is also a Classical Chinese Medicine Practitioner, will address these questions and more. $10 per person. Class sizes is limited, call 707-964-4352 x16 to reserve your space.

Mushroom Explorations Tours – Everyday from November 9 to 13
Participants will meet in the Stanford Inn lobby at 10AM before heading out on a mushroom foraging walk, led by Snow. Approximately 3 hours long. $30/person. Call 707-489-8341 for further details.

Enjoy fabulous mushroom-themed menus at these famed Mendocino restaurants:

Mendo Bistro – Fort Bragg, CA
Three-course mushroom-themed meal which includes appetizer, entrée and dessert. $35 per person. Offered November and December 2009. 707-964-4974 or www.mendobistro.com.

Rendezvous Restaurant – Fort Bragg, CA
Four-course mushroom tasting menu includes appetizer, soup, entrée, and chocolate truffles. $55 per person, or $90 with wine pairing. Offered October 2009 through January 2010.
Call 800-491-8142 to make a reservation or visit www.rendezvousinn.com.

Ravens’ Restaurant – Mendocino, CA
Five-course mushroom tasting meal offered November 6 through the 15. Includes amuse, soup, salad, appetizer, entrée, and dessert. $49 per person, $75 with wine pairings. Includes wine notes. 800-331-8884 or www.ravensrestaurant.com.

Patrona Restaurant – Ukiah, CA
Celebrating the local bounty with an array of mushroom-inspired dishes throughout the week. www.patronarestaurant.com or 707-462-9181.

Take advantage of these great Mushroom Festival lodging specials and stay a few nights!

Joshua Grindle Inn – Mendocino Village
Stay two nights at this AAA 4 Diamond Award inn situated on the Pacific Ocean headlands and the third night is free! Mushrooms are showcased in complimentary gourmet breakfast. Good for month of November. Call 707-937-4143 or visit www.joshgrin.com to make a reservation.

Beachcomber Motel – Fort Bragg
Enjoy two nights for the price of one during the month of November (excludes weekends and holidays) at this oceanfront establishment. For reservations, visit www.thebeachcombermotel.com or call 800-400-SURF(7873).

Little River Inn – Little River
Classic coastal resort with ocean-view luxury rooms for $189 a night (almost half off the regular price!) November 1 to 19, Sunday through Thursday. Call 888-INN-LOVE or visit www.LittleRiverInn.com for reservations.

Baechtel Creek Inn & Spa – Willits, CA
Create your own mushroom package! Includes two night’s lodging and either two tickets on the Wine & Mushroom Train (Nov 7) or two passes to Ridgewood Ranches Mushroom Foraging Excursion (dates vary). Prices staring $508 per couple. Please call 800-459-9911 or visit www.baechtelcreekinn.com.

Mendocino County, part of California's famous North Coast wine region, begins about 90 miles north of San Francisco and is located directly north of Sonoma County. The county offers visitors a range of activities and accommodations for active lifestyles, romantic getaways, or regionally sourced food and wine experiences.

For more information on Mendocino County, call 866-782-9636 (866-STAY-MENDO), or visit www.gomendo.com. For specific information about events surrounding the Mushroom Festival, visit www.gomendo.com/events and search for “mushroom.”

Media Contact: HypeHouse, Inc. | Heather Thompson | 415-788-4114 | heather@hypehouse.com