Foraged Hedgehog Mushroom Fried Rice

Foraged Hedgehog Mushroom Fried Rice

Foraged Hedgehog Mushroom Fried Rice

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Peas, Carrots, Egg, Garlic, Ginger
Sherry, Soy Sauce, Sesame Oil, Oyster Sauce
Peanuts, Scallions, Cilantro

When a box of freshly foraged hedgehog mushrooms arrives from coastal California, still carrying the scent of pine and damp earth, they deserve more than a quick sauté.

Their meaty velvety texture and nutty woodsy flavor shine in this fried rice recipe, where they are carefully browned and deglazed with sherry before joining tender carrots, sweet peas, and fluffy scrambled eggs. Each bite balances the earthy mushrooms, enhanced by toasted peanuts, fragrant cilantro, and brown rice seasoned with soy sauce, oyster sauce, and toasted sesame oil.

Foraged Hedgehog Mushrooms Video

Hedgehog mushrooms are easy to recognize thanks to the tiny, soft “teeth” beneath their caps instead of gills, a distinctive feature that makes them approachable even for those new to foraging wild mushrooms.

These particular hedgehogs were foraged along a fire road at the south end of Fort Bragg, California, where cool air, fog, and seasonal rains create ideal growing conditions.

Hedgehog mushrooms range from pale cream to soft apricot and light orange, with slightly wavy caps and dense, sturdy flesh. They grow on the forest floor (see video) near oak, pine, and fir trees, usually scattered along trails and clearings rather than in tight clusters. Their main season runs from fall through early winter.

How to cook Hedgehog Mushrooms

Hedgehog Mushroom Fried Rice Recipe

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Aji Amarillo Albacore Tostadas


Aji Amarillo Albacore Tostadas

Aji Amarillo Albacore Tostadas

These Aji Amarillo Albacore Tostadas combine a bright note of Peruvian flavor with classic Mexican tradition. Corn tortillas, griddled to a delicate crispness while remaining pliable, are brushed with oil and layered with a spirited Aji Amarillo sauce.

Ribbons of carrot and purple cabbage provide a refreshing crunch beneath lightly marinated albacore, prepared in the spirit of Peruvian ceviche, while fresh cilantro and a side of tangy Salsa Roja add the finishing touch. The result is a dish that’s both visually stunning and beautifully balanced, celebrating the best of Latin-inspired cuisine.


Aji Amarillo Albacore Tostadas

Aji Amarillo paste is made from Peru’s signature golden chili, prized for its fruity, slightly tangy heat and vibrant color. Just a little adds warmth, brightness, and a subtle kick, making it perfect for sauces, ceviches, or the creamy Aji Amarillo sauce on these albacore tostadas.

Albacore Tostadas Recipe

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Reverse-Sear Kurobuta Double-Bone Pork Chop

Reverse-Sear Kurobuta Double-Bone Pork Chop

Reverse-Sear Kurobuta Double-Bone Pork Chop
Parmesan Polenta & Pickled Cherry Pepper Sauce

Back in January 2013, I shared a recipe for Old School–Style Pork Chops with Pickled Cherry Pepper Sauce, and it has remained one of my most popular posts, with tens of thousands of views. But for 2026, I wanted to revisit it, elevate it, and give it the treatment it deserves.

I upgraded the pork to a Kurobuta double-bone chop, refined the technique with a reverse-sear for perfectly juicy edge-to-edge doneness, and captured the process in action shots, from searing to plating, to highlight color, texture, and the drama of cooking.

There are pork chops—and then there is the Kurobuta double-bone pork chop. Thick, succulent, and left intact with two bones, this chop is impossible to ignore. At 1.37 pounds, it’s more than enough for one, and honestly, it’s best shared.

Kurobuta pork, from the Berkshire breed, is prized for marbling, tenderness, and deep flavor, which makes it perfect for a reverse-sear. Slowly roasting the chop in the oven at low heat first ensures even doneness, then finishing with a hot sear gives a golden, caramelized crust. The result is juicy, tender meat with a gorgeously browned exterior.

The chop is the obvious star of the plate, served over creamy Parmesan polenta, which provides a soft, tasty contrast. To balance the richness, it is dressed with the pickled cherry pepper sauce that made the original recipe a favorite. Bright, tangy, and mildly spicy, it lifts the pork and polenta while highlighting the depth of the Kurobuta chop without overpowering it.

Kurobuta Double-Bone Pork Chop, Pickled Cherry Pepper Sauce

Reverse-Sear Pork Chop Recipe

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Lobster Tail, Saffron Risotto with Fennel and Leek

Lobster Tail, Saffron Risotto with Fennel and LeekPetite Broiled Lobster Tail
Saffron Risotto with Fennel and Leek

A petite broiled lobster tail rests atop a bed of saffron risotto, with finely diced fennel and leeks folded in to lend gentle herbal and anise notes that play off the saffron’s floral warmth. The creamy risotto and tender lobster are balanced so that each element shines without overpowering the others, making every bite delicate yet satisfying.

This dish pairs beautifully with a chilled Perrier-Jouët Blanc de Blancs Champagne. Its bright acidity and fine bubbles refresh the palate, while citrus and floral notes echo the saffron and herbs, lifting the flavors and making the combination of risotto and lobster light, aromatic, and memorable.

Lobster Tail, Saffron Risotto Recipe

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Hoppin’ John Soup with Collards

Hoppin' John Soup with Collards

Hoppin’ John Soup with Collards

We serve black-eyed peas and collard greens on New Year’s Day, following the Southern tradition meant to usher in good luck and prosperity. The peas are associated with good fortune in the year ahead, while collards, with their leafy green bundles, symbolize money and abundance.

Hoppin’ John is the classic Southern dish that brings these elements together with rice and pork, and this year we turned it into a soup — keeping the same soulful ingredients but letting them simmer in a smoky, savory broth, with rice served on the side to preserve the texture of the soup.

Most often, Hoppin’ John is served with collard (or mustard or turnip) greens on the side. Here, the collards go into the soup. Cutting them into a fine chiffonade allows the sturdy greens to soften more quickly and evenly, turning silky rather than bulky. The collards add color, flavor, and a boost of healthy greens.

Hoppin' John Soup with Collards

Hoppin’ John Soup Recipe

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