By Pamela Fink
To give you an idea of how fascinating the Fungi Kingdom is, we want to share a little about the news we discovered about the fungus that feeds on radiation in one of the most inhospitable areas in the world: Chernobyl.
The incredible adaptability of Cladosporium sphaerospermum tells us that there is still much to learn about these extraordinary organisms and how they can benefit humanity and the entire planet.
This same fascination is what Arif Towns Alonso has been coining for years with his project of Symbiosis Boutique It offers a mutually beneficial alliance between humanity and fungi by disseminating all their properties, in addition to having multiple aspects.
Located in Mercado Sano on Ancha de San Antonio # 123, Simbiosis offers a wide variety of mushroom varieties, from more than 25 edible species, as well as ceviches, smoothies, and mushroom art, including dyes created from them.
Arif's mycophilia began in his childhood when he and his Otomi neighbors used to collect a species called chicken feet, then take it home and make delicious food, complementing its exquisite flavor with green sauce.
As he got older, Arif began to wonder how these locals could distinguish between edible mushrooms and those that weren't, and this same questioning led him to delve deeper into his studies.
Thus, within his self-taught studies, Arif and Simbiosis's expanding network grew, allowing him to generate incredible connections like the one he now has with Chefs Alejandro Cruz and Chuy Arellano, among others, with whom he carries out culinary experiences.
The experience now offered consists of every Sunday of August (Mushroom for those who are passionate about it) attend an excursion to the forests of Guanajuato, specifically to the Peralillo Dam where participants collect mushrooms.
After that, the harvested mushrooms can be cooked and prepared by expert chefs with recipes that enhance their flavor while preserving the texture and original flavor of the harvested mushrooms so as not to lose their essence.
And now, thanks to the abundant rains we've had, we find ourselves in a blessed time for nature, as everything is green, and therefore, many mushrooms have grown in excess.
Some of the mushrooms that can be found in San Miguel and its surrounding areas are the plains mushroom, calvatia balls, lycopene, as well as a wide variety of macroscopic fungi. We must never forget that many of these fungi are invisible, but are always present in the very air we breathe.
There is certainly still much to explore in the world of fungi, as they are possibly the cornerstone of life, being its initiators and terminators…
Likewise, other uses for these little things beyond food are also found in the artistic scene, such as people who make clothing dyes from them, as well as ink for watercolor painting.
There's also one in the textile industry that can produce a material similar to cowhide. Even in the music industry, some people connect them to electrodes and send them to synthesizers so that their electrical pulses generate musical notes.
As Mexico is the second country in the world with the greatest biodiversity of edible mushrooms, it would be a shame not to explore its benefits or take advantage of the abundant rainfall we've had to take part in Symbiosis expeditions and delight in our own gastronomical discoveries.
