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Community Corner

'FungHi' Is All the Rage at the Farmers Market

Dirk Hermann brings mushrooms from all over the world to Culver City.

Dirk Hermann, owner of LAFungHi, was a personal chef for more than 25 years.  Now he carries 40 to 50 varieties of mushrooms in his refrigerator truck, carting collections from Europe, Africa, South America and his fields and forest in Northern California to eager buyers at the Culver City Farmers Market. 

From an early age, Hermann established an affinity for cooking and a passion for mushrooms. By 18 he owned his first restaurant, Gasthof Drexle, in the Bavarian Alps.  During Hermann's ownership, a mushroom hunter named Heini would frequently drop in with several varieties.  Hermann would test the consistency, color and flavor and then barter them for food or beer. Today, Hermann continues to barter for mushrooms around the globe as well as harvest his own funghi at high altitudes in Northern California.  

Hermann particularly likes coming to Culver City on Tuesdays because of his devoted customers here.  He recalls how they braved a fierce rainstorm last season to come purchase his offerings.  "I remember looking on my way home and seeing that we still made some sales and I started crying because customers here were so loyal.  They respect you when you put your time in. We're here rain or shine."

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Catch LAFungHi at eight farmers markets in Southern California. 

Suggested Mushroom Recipe by Chef Hermann

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Ingredients: 

Hot, hot, hot olive oil

Mushrooms

Chopped shallots & garlic

Seasoning (salt & pepper)

Drops of lemon, a dash of parsley

Directions: 

Saute 1-2 min

Guten Appetit!

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