We asked our Director of Culinary Arts, Chef Kevin DiLibero what ingredient he is currently psyched out of his mind about. His answer: Shiitake Mushrooms! With their nice meaty texture similar to a portabella, the shiitake mushroom can absorb the flavors of whatever it is cooked in while also bringing forth a nice earthy and smoky flavor to the party. They’re a pretty amazing fungi and we love cooking with them!
The Shiitake mushroom is actually the second most widely cultivated mushroom in the world and it has been estimated that the origin of shiitake mushrooms can be traced back to the cretaceous period, over one hundred million years ago – this is one well-seasoned fungi. As best we can tell, the Shiitake originated in the mountainous areas of China, Japan, Indonesia, and Taiwan and eventually, thanks in part to typhoon wind patterns, its spores were scattered to other areas of Asia where the mushroom took root and began growing. The Shiitake has been part of Asian cooking for over 600 years and when Asians began to immigrate to the Americas, they brought the mushroom with them. Nowadays, the mushroom is grown in the United States and has become a fabulous and versatile ingredient that chefs love to use. That includes the chefs at Newport Restaurant Group.
For our mushrooms, we like to source them locally and to do that, we call in the experts from the Rhode Island Mushroom Company in South Kingstown to deliver what we need. Shiitakes are a wood-decay fungus which means they typically grow on oak logs. They take about three weeks to reach maturity before they are ready for harvesting. Rhode Island Mushroom Company grow theirs in a grow house and use bags of nutrient enriched sawdust or other organic material, called bag culture, to start the growing process. The result are some of the finest shiitake’s we could ask for. We love working with local farmers to help source the ingredients we use at the restaurants, so we are proud of our relationship with Rhode Island Mushroom Company.
Shiitake mushrooms aren’t just delicious – they have great health benefits as well. They are high in B vitamins and they serve as a food source of vitamin D. Extracts from Shiitake mushrooms have been used in treating cancer, and claims have been made that they reduce cholesterol, enhance sexual power, prolong life, kill viruses, and improve circulation. Other shiitake health benefits include their ability to aid weight loss, support cardiovascular health and improve brain function. All things considered, that’s a pretty amazing fungi!
Look for shiitakes featured on many of our menus and as specials throughout the season.
(Some info from Wild About Mushroom)