Every now and then I stumble across an innovative lodging package, one that goes well beyond the ho-hum usual offering of room, meals, and activity at a slightly discounted price. Hunting and Preparing Wild Mushrooms with David Spahr, offered at Le Vatout, a bed-and-breakfast inn in Waldoboro, Maine, certainly meets that criteria.
Local ‘shroom forager (and photographer and professional cook) David Spahr, author of Edible and Medicinal Mushrooms of New England and Eastern Canada, takes package guests on a private foraging trip in Midcoast Maine, teaching them how to identify seasonally available ‘shrooms—perhaps black trumpets, chanterelles, chicken-of-the-woods, oysters, meadow, porcini, maitake, or boletes.
Upon return to the inn, guests learn how to prepare their finds and match them with other foods. On one night, the preparation will be German, which is in keeping with Waldoboro’s heritage (Hint: while in town, don’t miss visiting the Old German Church or Morse’s Sauerkraut & European Deli, a cafe and specialty food store).
The two-night package includes two days of private instruction in finding and preparing wild mushrooms, three nights lodging, three breakfasts, two picnic lunches, and two dinners featuring the mushrooms found during the foraging expeditions, (see detailed itinerary). Price is $850 for two ($425 per person) or $1,400 for four ($350 pp). The package is available from June into October.
