Dinna Davis


The Summer break went by like a blink of an eye…and we found ourselves back at the Hall of Flowers to plan our MSSF Culinary Group Dinner for the 2024-2025 season.  Highlights of the potluck dishes prepared and shared below. 
 
Menu
 
Appetizers:

• Ginger Mushroom (Chicken of the Woods) Baked Wontons
• Shiitake Mushrooms with Sour Cream, Dill, Porcini Salt
• Crostini with Pate and Black Garlic (Vegan)

 
Main Dish:

• Lobster Mushroom Homemade Baked Mac and Cheese
• Mapo Tofu
• Corona Beans with Mussel and Prawns
• Broccoli, Mushroom Souffle
• Fried Chicken
• Vegan: Tomatoes, Onion, Oregano, Better than Bouillon, Carrot, S&P, Porcini, Morels, Bay Leaf, Brown Rice
• Zucchini, Oyster Mushroom, Tomatoes, Onion, Garlic, Walnuts, Sundried Tomatoes, and Cheese
• Roast Heirloom Tomatoes and Onions
• Bean Vermicelli (Vegan and gluten-free)
• Shiitake, Tofu, Asian Vegetable

 Salad:

•   Melon, Cucumber, Basil Salad

 Dessert:

• Fruit Salad
• Cherry Pie
• Buttermilk Cake with Peaches and Figs
• Candy Cap Maple Pecan Blondies
• Banana Pudding
• Pavlova Cake with Huckleberries
• Chocolate Decadent Cake

Other:

• Recess Zero Proof Craft Mock-tails

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Only dues-paid MSSF members may register for this dinner. Go to the "members only" area of mssf.org to register.

Bring a dish that is mushroom themed in presentation or ingredients (main dishes, side dishes, soups, salads, desserts).  Arrive at 6:00 p.m., eating begins at 7:00 p.m.  Registration is required, and the fee will be collected at the event.  Please do not come if you are not feeling well, have any symptoms of Covid-19, or if you are not fully vaccinated against Covid-19.
 
Location:
Hall of Flowers, Golden Gate Park
9th and Lincoln
San Francisco, California
 
The MSSF Culinary Group is open to all MSSF members who are interested in the gastronomical aspects of mushrooming as a participatory cooking group.  Gatherings are generally held on the first Monday of each month at 7 p.m. at the San Francisco County Fair Building (Hall of Flowers). Members of MSSF and the Culinary Group, and their guests, are invited to attend.
 

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MSSF Culinary Group
 
All Culinary Group Members contribute, either as a part of the team that prepares the dinner, or by bringing an appetizer to share.  Traditionally, the dinners have been designed to take advantage of the wild mushrooms available, as well as the best and freshest food of the season.  The menus are centered on mushrooms, ethnic foods, a particular main ingredient, or a holiday near the time of the dinner.  Each dinner is led by a “captain” who sets the menu and organizes volunteers to cook the dishes, as well as handle setup and cleanup.
 
To be part of the fun and food, here are the practicalities:

• Your regular MSSF membership dues must be paid up.  (Regular membership dues cannot be paid at Culinary dinners, you must use the online membership billing feature of the MSSF web site.
  • The Culinary Group has an annual $10 per family membership fee. This is a Special-interest-group membership fee that is separate from, and in addition to, regular MSSF dues. The Culinary dues  can be paid at the dinners to the Culinary Group bookkeepers.
  • To cover the cost of the facility rental and the dinner’s ingredients, most dinners cost $20 for MSSF-Culinary Group Members. MSSF-members attending the Culinary group for the first time pay $25. And non-MSSF members who attend as guests of members pay $25. (Occasionally, a dinner may have a different cost due to ingredient expenses, if so, it would be stated on the dinner reservation page.)
  • The Culinary Group is participatory - each member is expected to participate as part of a dinner team once per season.
  • At dinners where you are not part of the team, you should bring an appetizer to share with the group.
  • The facility can hold 60 members seated for dinner, thus that is the limit for reservations.
  • Reservations are required and must be made no later than the Wednesday before the dinner.
  • Members bring their own dinner beverage, tableware and table covering. Dishes, utensils, glassware, linens, etc. are not provided.
  • The MSSF Mushroom season is Sept - May.
  • Regular dinners occur Oct-Nov, and Jan-May.
  • December features a special Holiday Dinner open to all MSSF members and their guests. Over the years, the Holiday Dinner has been done in a variety of formats: potluck, partial potluck (some catered items, some member contributions), fully catered, and hosted by a restaurant.

• MSSF Online Calendar then click on the event, or go to the Member Only Area and after logging in, click on event registration.

For assistance or additional information, email Culinary Group questions to Paul Lufkin or Maria Pham.