At Published we are constantly seeking out ingredients that are as local and fresh as we can get them and part of ensuring that quality is working with incredible suppliers and foragers that we’ve grown to know and trust. One of the wonderful foragers that we have the pleasure of working with is Abbey Ruscica who gathers a wide range of fresh wild ingredients around Western Canada – right now, you can find her incredible morel mushrooms on our menu! Even though she’s in the peak of her foraging season, Abbey took some time to answer a few questions about her foraging journey:

How long have you been foraging for morels?

I’ve been foraging since 2015 when I took my first trip to Ootsa Lake. When we arrived at the lake, we met the other pickers with the buyer and there was a boat ready for us to get to the pre-scouted path. We ended up picking so many it got me hooked – I loved being on the hunt, and the feeling of finally finding some is addicting. 

How did your journey with morels start? Why did you start foraging?

I had just moved to Dawson City, Yukon from Southern Ontario for a summer job, and while there I kept meeting people in town talking about how they were having a lot of success picking mushrooms. It sounded like my dream job! I have always been in nature and kept curious about plants and mushrooms, and I’m happiest when I’m in the forest. So, the next season I planned to go on my first morel hunt and adventure.

Do you remember the first time you tried a morel mushroom?

The first time I tried morels was on my first foraging trip, a friend in camp cooked them for us one night around the fire, just the way he liked them – with rice and veggies. He cooked them almost every night. A classic dinner with simple ingredients for camping and it was delicious!

How do you like to cook them?

I gotta say my favorite way to cook morels is in lots of butter with salt until they get that crisp on the edges, it tastes just like bacon! 

How do you know what kinds of places are good for morel foraging?

The most abundant patches for morels are the first year after a forest fire. They need a good amount of water just like most mushrooms so I look for valleys, rivers or swampy areas. The beginning of the season is important to look for lower elevation and they gradually grow higher up as the season goes on, so by the end of the season, they are much higher and harder to get to. 

Is there anything risky about foraging morels?

There are some risks for sure! Getting injured and being in the middle of nowhere is a big one. My dog, Bo is the best wildlife alert I could ask for, she keeps loud and lets the forest know we’re there.

Have you ever had a year where you couldn’t find any morels?

I’ve never had a summer with no morels at all, but some years a burn might not produce as many morels as I might have hoped for. Last year was a little rough, and the findings were slim but I’ve had mostly luck in my 7 seasons of picking. 

How has this year been for foraging?

This year has been great! Definitely one for the books. It’s been really consistent – I’m usually chasing fires here and there, wherever it’s producing the best but I’ve been in the same camp spot for around a month and it’s still going. We are crossing our fingers for more rain and that the weather treats us well for a longer season.