# Wild Foods **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 23, 2008, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wild-foods/446548 "2008-04-23T14:50:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Sal\_Ammoniac](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8dc957/32.png) [@Sal\_Ammoniac](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sal_Ammoniac)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2008, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wild-foods/446548/41 "2008-04-25T00:16:37Z")
Boy, am I lame. About the only wild things I’ve eaten with any regularity are blueberries and blackberries. I’d eat walnuts (though I’m dubious about the pickled husks) if the squirrels would leave me any. I’ve probably eaten the odd mulberry, though they’re a little bitter. And speaking of bitter, someone once told me dogwood fruits are edible, which I suppose might be true in a technical sense. This friend was a little embarrassed when I tried to eat one. The difference between theory and practice, I suppose. ---
**Author:** ![An\_Gadai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@An\_Gadai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Gadai)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2008, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wild-foods/446548/42 "2008-04-25T21:34:46Z")
Blackberries and Strawberries mainly. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2008, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wild-foods/446548/43 "2008-04-25T23:58:28Z")
Well, I tried [Dandelion flowers in batter](http://atomicshrimp.com/dandelions/) today, and was not disappointed - you guys are right - they’re really quite good. ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2008, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wild-foods/446548/44 "2008-04-26T00:03:48Z")
[QUOTE=Mangetout] Well, I tried [Dandelion flowers in batter](http://atomicshrimp.com/dandelions/) today, and was not disappointed - you guys are right - they’re really quite good. [/QUOTE] Oh, yeah, we should’a told you that the flowers would all close up when you batter them, anyway, so it doesn’t really matter if they’re a bit closed when you pick them. (Although I suppose the closed ones might hold more sand and grit.) Glad you liked them! ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2008, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wild-foods/446548/45 "2008-04-26T00:13:55Z")
Yeah, but I reckon if I pick just those really fat ones, I might be able to coax them to stay open - especially if I fry the petal side first - they should look quite decorative. ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2008, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wild-foods/446548/46 "2008-04-26T02:08:00Z")
Bad news/good news dept: You just missed the [Hokitika Wildfoods Festival](http://www.wildfoods.co.nz/index.cfm/1,51,html/Home) , but there is plenty of time to plan for next year! ---
**Author:** ![levdrakon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@levdrakon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/levdrakon)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2008, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wild-foods/446548/47 "2008-04-26T02:58:43Z")
[QUOTE=Mangetout] Well, I tried [Dandelion flowers in batter](http://atomicshrimp.com/dandelions/) today, and was not disappointed - you guys are right - they’re really quite good. [/QUOTE] I made them last night too, and they came out exactly like the picture. Tasty little snack. ---
**Author:** ![Harmonious\_Discord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/74df32/32.png) [@Harmonious\_Discord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonious_Discord)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2008, 12:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wild-foods/446548/48 "2008-04-26T12:32:00Z")
I’ve found that picking nettle just under the soil is the easiest on your hands. I haven’t eaten it. Did you know that the military used it to dye cloth green? The dandelion flowers didn’t look too bad. ---
**Author:** ![Capt.Ridley\_s\_Shooting\_Party](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/cc9497/32.png) [@Capt.Ridley\_s\_Shooting\_Party](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Capt.Ridley_s_Shooting_Party)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2008, 1:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wild-foods/446548/49 "2008-04-26T13:02:26Z")
Blackberries, bilberries, wild raspberries, hazelnuts and acorns for me. Mangetout, I’d give acorns a miss. ---
**Author:** ![Harmonious\_Discord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/74df32/32.png) [@Harmonious\_Discord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonious_Discord)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2008, 1:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wild-foods/446548/50 "2008-04-26T13:17:43Z")
I was under the impression that the acorns being eaten are specific species. They were never described as tasty, only edible. I believe the cooking is necessary to eat them too. ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2008, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wild-foods/446548/51 "2008-04-26T13:38:01Z")
I’ve captured my own wild yeast for bread (with a net, you know. I wore a pith helmet.) Berries, of course. Dandelion greens. Venison, and boar. And of course fish. That’s about it, though. Will have to try the dandelions. ---
**Author:** ![Rebo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rebo/32/13005_2.png) [@Rebo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rebo)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2008, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wild-foods/446548/52 "2008-04-26T14:06:16Z")
[QUOTE=WhyNot] Um…does that mean the cows are eating them? And the spores are being pooped out and sprouting in the poop? Or are the spores airborne and land on the cow patties post-poop? Please tell me it’s the former, I’m really enjoying the vision of tripping cows! 😃 “Have you ever really chewed your cud, man? I mean, \*really \*chewed it? Woah. Like, moo, dude.” [/QUOTE] The cows eat the grass that has spores on it. The cow then poops out the spores/grass, and the spores grow into mushrooms right there in the dung. It’s a great fertilizer/source of energy for them. Ignorance fought, for me at least! [Here’s a cite.](http://www.answerbag.com/q_view/343121) ---
**Author:** ![Taters](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/taters/32/2845_2.png) [@Taters](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Taters)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2008, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wild-foods/446548/53 "2008-04-26T15:41:13Z")
Wild mushrooms, chanterelles mostly, because I’ve been going out to the woods to get them since I was a kid. Venison (elk, deer) Boar Bear Duck Rabbit Wild greens Wild berries: strawberries, huckleberries, salmonberries. That’s all I can think of for now. Rattlesnake, but I didn’t really care for it That’s all I can think of for now. ---
**Author:** ![nikonikosuru](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/5f8ce5/32.png) [@nikonikosuru](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nikonikosuru)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2008, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wild-foods/446548/54 "2008-04-26T20:52:36Z")
I’ve been tempted by the local dandelions around here…If I were to go round some up (which I know are chemical free), how would you suggest eating them? Can anything else be done to them besides a salad? ---
**Author:** ![Miss\_Purl\_McKnittington](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9a140/32.png) [@Miss\_Purl\_McKnittington](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miss_Purl_McKnittington)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2008, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wild-foods/446548/55 "2008-04-26T21:05:43Z")
You can steam the greens like spinach or asparagus, and dress them similarly – butter, lemon juice, vinegar . . . hollandaise sauce? I don’t know if they’d hold up that, though. They’re pretty bitter, so you can season them like other bitter greens. The flower heads you can batter and bread like fish. Make a batter with flour, eggs, and milk, dip them in the batter, and then roll them in flour or cornmeal, with whatever seasonings you want. Or you can just roll them in egg and roll them in seasoned flour or cornmeal. You can also purchase boxes of breading for game fish that are pretty tasty. The breading is already seasoned. Unfortunately, I can’t remember what it’s called. After breading them, you can either deep fry them or pan fry them. Apparently you can make “coffee” from the roots, I don’t know anyone who’s ever done that. ETA: You can also make dandelion wine from the flowers, but that takes a little bit more effort. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2008, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wild-foods/446548/56 "2008-04-26T21:47:46Z")
Only wild foods I’ve ever eaten are blackberries and lake-caught fish. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2008, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wild-foods/446548/57 "2008-04-26T21:54:33Z")
[QUOTE=Dolores Reborn] They grow wild out in the cow fields, right on top of the cow patties. It’s been years, though. The farmers would catch us hippies and run us off. Good times, good times. 😉 [/QUOTE] If you see a mushroom growing on a cowpat, can you be sure it’s a psilocybe? Do other kinds grow there? ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2008, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wild-foods/446548/58 "2008-04-26T21:58:15Z")
[QUOTE=Miss Purl McKnittington] Apparently you can make “coffee” from the roots, I don’t know anyone who’s ever done that. [/QUOTE] I’ve never made it from scratch, but I have had [Dandy-blend](http://www.dandyblend.com/webpages/dandyblendinfo.htm), an instant coffee substitute made from extracts of dandelion root, chicory root, sugar beet, barley and rye. It’s not entirely unlike coffee. In fact, if you compare it with decaf instant coffee, I think it comes out a little better. I like using it to make “lattes” and “mochas”. ---
**Author:** ![nikonikosuru](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/5f8ce5/32.png) [@nikonikosuru](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nikonikosuru)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2008, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wild-foods/446548/59 "2008-04-27T01:49:51Z")
Thanks, Miss Purl McKnittington! All those sound interesting. Sometime I’ll have to try the battered flowers, I’m thinking something like tenpura batter…my boyfriend would love that! ---
**Author:** ![Miss\_Purl\_McKnittington](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9a140/32.png) [@Miss\_Purl\_McKnittington](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miss_Purl_McKnittington)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2008, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wild-foods/446548/60 "2008-04-27T02:06:38Z")
No problem! I like helping people eat their lawns. Nom nom nom. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wild-foods/446548.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wild-foods/446548.md?page=4)