South Africa residents visit Kennett Square

What a surprise to find out that we had visitors from South Africa! They were so interesting to talk to. They were here visiting family but decided that the cost to come to America was so expensive that it wasn't worth coming for just 3 weeks. They decided to come for 3 months. They have seen more of the USA than I have and Canada too! What a great vacation. They did spend several weeks with their family. This does prove that we get people from all over the world who visit our "small town America" - any day of the week! It was nice to meet them!

Anyone for Mushroom Chowder?

The number one selling packaged food item at The Mushroom Cap is Mushroom Chowder with vegetable, pasta & rice. Now that the weather is cooler we offer a sample taste on the weekends. It is very easy to make but with the fresh mushrooms we add (sometimes shiitake, sometimes crimini, sometimes white button) one would believe it was made from scratch. We continue to get calls to have this product shipped - 6 to 8 packages at a time. Have you tasted it yet? Look for our coupon on our website - make a $10 purchase (in store only) and receive 1 lb. of fresh button mushrooms - perfect for the chowder! Yummy.

Red Hat Society visits The Mushroom Cap

A planned trip for the Red Hat Society from Bel Aire, MD for Friday, October 24, 2008 turned out to be a great experience for the six ladies who visited Kennett Square. After enjoying lunch at the Kennett Inn, having had mushroom soup, they walked down to The Mushroom Cap where they watched our 10 minute, informative industry video. They were surprised to see shiitake, oyster, maitake and pom-pom logs producing mushrooms in our exhibit area. Before leaving for Va La Winery the Red Hat Ladies purchased our fresh mushrooms to take back home. They were so excited to find fresh mushrooms like they have never seen before! We know they will be back for more since they found out that Kennett Square is only a 45 minute trip from home! Love those hats!

Getaway Guides

Visitors from Binghampton, NY today arrived in Kennett Square using their GPS directing them to The Mushroom Cap at 114 W State Street. They were using their Getaways for Gourmets In the Northeast by Nancy and Richard Woodworth, which they use time and time again. I was quite surprised to see The Mushroom Cap listed along with several other establishments in our area. I do remember the Woodworths visiting Kennett Square but there was no guarantee that The Mushroom Cap would be included. This guide was revised in 2006. You will be able to buy this guide at The Mushroom Cap in a day or two. You just take this book on vacation, take advantage of the research and enjoy! Thank you to the Woodworths!

Kennett Square Merchants

Has anyone seen the Kennett Square merchant billboard advertisement on Route 322? If you drive from the Philadelphia Airport via I 95 South and Route 322 toward West Chester to Route 1 South, you should see it loud and clear! Kennett Square has so many great retail establishments featuring a wide variety of goods. Visit our website: http://www.kennettsquaremerchants.com/ to see how we can best make your shopping experience and your dining experience memorable in Kennett Square,PA Mushroom Capital of the World!

We are gearing up for the Holiday season with food products. Today I was interviewed for the Signature Brandywine Magazine - a feature on food products for this years holiday gift giving. We offer six different marinated mushrooms with The Mushroom Cap label, a mushroom chowder with The Mushroom Cap label and several other food products. Our signature gift is a 3 lb. box of fresh mushrooms to include 2 portabellas and a mix of white, shiitake, oyster, crimini and enoki. The gift box includes recipes. This product was shipped all over the USA last year. The cost is $18.50 plus shipping! Another great item is our gift box that includes two of the marinated 12 oz. jars and the mushroom chowder. This product sells for $24.00. It can be purchased already wrapped. Have you tried our Portabella Sun-dried Tomato tapenade with aged balsamic. Um-Um-good!

Our shiitake log arrived today. I soaked it in water for about 5 hours. I then placed the log on a tray and then covered it with a plastic bag. The bag will keep the log moist. The log will have to be misted along the way. Shiitake happens in Kennett Square!

Hope to see you soon!

The Growing Tree - Kennett Square's Children's Consignment Shop Reopens

The Growing Tree, a children's consignment shop featuring gently used clothing from infant through size 8, shoes, books and some toys, has reopened. Located below The Mushroom Cap it has its own entrance (free parking) off Scarlet Alley in Kennett Square. Strollers welcome. The Growing Tree was established in 1984 in Landenberg, PA. Closing The Growing Tree for a time was necessary to make room for the Mushroom Exhibit in The Mushroom Cap where pieces from the original Phillips Mushroom Museum are displayed. Visit www.thegrowingtree.com for more information. Go Green, Shop Green, Save Green!

Be sure to watch Travel Channel (57) if visiting our area on Wednesday, October 22, 2008, 6 pm to see the Half Moon Restaurant and Saloon featured in the 2nd half for the "Hamburger Paradise" segment.
Half-Moon Restaurant
Kennett Square, Pa.
If you are totally over the beef, try some kangaroo. At Half Moon, you can sample a hamburger from several different kinds of meat. Known for its game burgers, Half Moon has been steaming up meat from non-farm dwelling animals for over eight years. Choose from alligator, wild boar, buffalo, kangaroo and other wild meats, which are imported from farms around the world.

Hope to see you all soon! Weather is great today - finally feels like Fall!

Brandywine Valley Visitors from Alabama - October 18, 2008

Visitors from Alabama were in town yesterday. They arrived at Philadelphia Airport, rented a car and drove to Kennett Square arriving at 2 am with no place to stay - Did they really sleep in their car? As we say - Shiitake Happens in Kennett Square! It was all worth it after they visited Longwood Gardens and of course The Mushroom Cap.

How about the gentleman who called to ask for directions to Kennett Square - coming from the Chadds Ford area? "We are coming to The Mushroom Cap before we go to Longwood Gardens", he said. When he finally arrived he told us he thought the village of Hamorton was Kennett Square. Boy was he surprised when he arrived in town! Some just never drive beyond Longwood Gardens coming from the North. They just don't know what they are missing.

This week we are featuring locally prepared Roasted Red Peppers. We found a great recipe with portabellas, spinach, and eggs. Adding cheese is a must. Brunch anyone?

We've had several requests for pickled mushrooms to replace green olives in their martinis. We now have those pickled mushrooms. How about two martini glasses to go along with our 12 oz. jar of pickled mushrooms for a great gift?

Coming soon - a shiitake log. We are going to try our hand at growing shiitakes at The Mushroom Cap - one log at a time! Should be a great experience! How many shiitakes will we get? Can't wait to find out.

Portabella Fries

Forgot to mention that John at Portabello's (new restaurant in town across from The Mushroom Cap) has taken my suggestion to come up with Portabella Fries as an appetizer offering. This could end up becoming his signature dish! Wow are they good! The first time I had portabella fries was at The Mushroom Festival a few years back. Since that time I was in the Crazy Horse restaurant in Bloomington, IN where they not only served them but had a tent card on the table advertising them. I wonder if the portabella mushrooms are as plentiful in Bloomington as they are in Kennett Square? I am so excited to have a restaurant in Kennett Square, Mushroom Capital of the World finally serving Portabella Fries! You go John!

October 1, 2008 - now selling Mushroom Powder

We are now making our own mixed blend of mushroom powder out of Kennett Square shiitake, oyster, maitake and crimini mushrooms. Great for sauces, soups, gravies, etc. When is someone going to add mushroom powder to Gerber baby food???

A visitor today from Northwest PA - here to search for "Wild Mushrooms" - found "Chicken of the Woods" - Fresh Mushrooms, Nature's Hidden Treasure at its best! Wow! I'm not familiar with wild mushrooms - most of those who come to The Mushroom Cap who are familiar either learned how to identify mushrooms from their parents or grandparents. Not sure that I care to learn - I will stick to the cultivated and benefit from their nutrients!

Be sure to get your mushroom recipes from www.mushroominfo.com