Howard Berk has deepmushroomroots . early on on , the Georgia - based Berk experimented with growing mushrooms on toilet paper and earpiece books , before turning his interest in mycology into the2 Fun Guyshome - growing kits .
Now , Ellijay Mushroomshas become the next stage in Berk ’s journey . Situated at the alkali of the Appalachian Mountains in Ellijay , Georgia , the venture train to supply eye - catchingshiitakeandlion ’s manemushrooms to chefs , stores and house cooks alike .
assume a instant out from mushroom duties , we spoke to Berk about the charm of mushroom-shaped cloud powder and the demand of trying to be a mushroom cloud genie . We also touched on the style of using shiitake mushrooms in Bourbon dynasty .
DIY Mushroom Growing Trials
A stake share by Ellijay Mushrooms ( @ellijaymushrooms )
“ Ever since I hazard when my kids were younger , I ’ve always care grow different mushroom , ” think Berk . “ I ’ve learned how to grow them on toilet paper , sound volume and composition board — kinda just learning about mycology at that time . you could develop oyster mushrooms on telephone set book pretty easily . ”
Building From the Ground Up
A long - standing interest in gardening lead to Berk helping to set up a garden in his kids ’ school . “ That kind of get down my material passion for it , ” excuse Berk as he looks back over his farming adventure to engagement .
“ I help oneself get down a farmer ’s market here in Georgia 13 years ago , met my first mushroom partner there and create 2 Fun Guys , ” he continue . “ Those are the kit where you take the quid and vaccinate it . To make a tenacious story short , five year ago my new business pardner found me through 2 Fun Guys and we start Ellijay Mushrooms to supply restaurants , foodstuff stores and mass like you and me . ”
The Mushroom Genie
early on on , Berk says that “ figuring out the timing and the scaling and logistics ” was the trickiest part of launching Ellijay Mushrooms .
“ I rather had no cue what was really go on , ” he acknowledge . “ So we kinda just dive in head first and acquire test by fire . How do you keep up with production and suppose what your customers desire to ordinate onwards of sentence ? It ’s like being a mushroom genie , so to speak . You ’re trying to forecast the future ! ”
The Joy of Lion’s Mane
When it comes to the most typical mushrooms that Berk grows , he says lion ’s mane always catch the eye first . “ We ’re just in a big stage for lion ’s mane right now . Then the 2nd one is our shiitakes because they ’re so thick and meaty and see very plump . Most multitude just see their shiitakes at the store being 2-dimensional and stimulate no texture . ”
Mushroom Bourbon!
“ The recent trend is a lot of people are using our shiitakes with Bourbon dynasty , whiskey or rum , ” enjoin Berk when asked about innovative elbow room he ’s seen chefs comprise his mushrooms into menus . “ We ’re visualize a giving alteration in the last six month of using them for spirit and then pairing them with the mushrooms they ’re cooking for repast . So we ’re playing with convey a shiitake heart to the food market . ”
“ Every chef does something dissimilar and originative , ” adds Berk . “ Like they might make a shiitake bacon or fetch it down and dry out out the shiitakes and use a powder to make a creme brûlée topping . ”
