Press see also archive and video gallery I love the amazing mushrooms that I found with Alan Muskatthe foremost foraging experience in the countryas thrilling as reeling in a twenty-pound bassIdeally you grow the herbs yourself… or forage them (dandelion, sassafras, nettle, heal all, pine needle)..., says Alan MuskatWhy don’t we eat squirrel?“I’ve got a roadkill squirrel in the fridge.”forget Noma—it’s time for NorCara “find dining” experiencetao-like wisdomit’s all a question of what you’re used tothe original multigenerational activityWhat’s for dinner…? That depends on what you bring in.one of the nation’s premiere authorities on foragingone of the best ways to get to know a placea fun day in the mountains eating God knows whatfind the elements you’ll later savor at a mealAlan really knows his 'shroomsAlan Muskat is like a bounty hunter — of mushroomssomething special — and plenty of bragging rightsepic excursions“Alan brought me a tiny little truffle, and it felt like Gandolf giving someone the ring of power.”I felt for a moment as if I’d stumbled upon a child’s tea party in the woodsa fascinating journey of discovery“The Garden of Eden is real.”Alan Muskat, the forager who found this truffle, believes the species, which he calls the Blue Ridge Truffle, might be one of the rarest in the world.a realm of the senses all of its ownGrab a knife, hit the woods, and try not to kill anyone.the country’s first forage-to-table experienceone of the coolest and most unique adventures in the city if not the Southeasta first-of-its-kind nonprofitFarm-to-table dinners are giving way to forage-to-table affairs.Muskat, in his “hunter/gatherer” lifestyle, has been ahead of the trends, both on the foodie front and the economic one, toogo off-pisteImmerse yourself in the Appalachian landscape...Muskat is also cofounder of an organization called The REAL Center, which, unlike the boring Sierra Club offers an ecosexuality workshopDo you know your nettles from your poison ivy?And you thought your job was tough?turns travel into a giant edible scavenger huntBusiness has been picking up – literally.a back-to-basics way to immerse yourself in a beautiful setting, focus on the present moment, and deeply satisfy your soulHe proposed in June while the two foraged for wild mushrooms.A foraging excursion promises to be a lot more exciting than sitting down in a restaurant.Muskat, whose expertise in all things edible and wild has made him a regional culinary celebrity...With adventure-seeking foodies flocking to his mushroom-foraging tours…sounds wildfree, fun, and easier than you thinkThere really is enough for everyone."We don’t have to be afraid."a rare treat, and a mustan entirely new perspective on the weeds you regularly curseenjoy the literal fruits of your laborThe fact that the ingredients had been gathered less than two hours before seemed to make the food taste even better.foraging is a growing pastimeAnywhere else in the country, a mushroom forager and this apprentice rapping in the parking lot of a sporting goods store would be weird.Get in touch with your most-at-peace self.a fascinating journey… a real pleasuresurprisingly safe and easyDirt don’t hurt....the less picky you are — no pun intended — the more open you are to what life dishes out…unique mountain-to-fork foodie experiencesIf I can eat like this every night, I’ll be a happy camper.dishes like venison tartare with blueberries, pickled milkweed and duck egg, and ramp cavatelli with black walnutthe Hunger Games experienceEverything looks good when you're starving.sustainability, local experiences, outdoor adventure, all in one tasty packageTake to the hills.something like Iron Chef meets Survivormanwild delicacies hiding in plain sightMove over wild boars. There’s a new set of hunters on the prowl: hotel guests.Freshly snuck up on mushrooms taste so much better than the non-snuck-up-on kind.Alan’s not most people."food shopping" in the forestYou’ll never go hungry.like a shopping spreeforagers make $300 an hour digging in the dirtGo to the source. Literally.Get off the eaten path.The staff will whip up an appetizer or cocktail, gratis, with your wild loot.a great way to engage with your surroundings and your food“It just totally grew on me. Like a fungus.”His tours are like underground clubs or closed-door restaurants.Alan Muskat has forged a revolution.The particular truffle that Muskat found, the Blue Ridge Truffle, might just be the rarest type in the world.first-of-its-kindtop-notch toursWe came upon a large mushroom which weighed 20 pounds. The chefs turned the mushroom into an appetizer and shockingly, ice cream.Welcome to the always adventurous, often altruistic, and occasionally wacky world of invasivorism.What better culinary skill than being able to harvest one's own dinner in the woods?one of the fastest-growing food trends in recent memoryIf Alan has a basic message... it’s that the world is still our home.an unforgettable spring break experienceLike a woodsy, wide-eyed Willy Wonka, Muskat invites his guests to abandon the pedestrian trail and step inside the wild buffet of the forest.draw upon the bounty of natureCollecting maitake mushrooms with naturalist Alan Muskat near Biltmore estate in Asheville, NC. I always love a good mushroom hunt!more than 300 ediblesOnce you get into it, you’ll be hooked for life.a different approach to gourmet food shoppinga hot new holiday trendnot your average wellness retreatYou quickly become a disciple… It suddenly seems silly to be forcing crops upon a planet that is bursting with foods literally at our feet.Get ready. Your food is about to get wild.Let nature feed your soul and your appetite.a gateway into deeper ecological awarenessSoon the baskets are filled with edible flowers, stems and leaves.What's not to love?!a culinary experience to rememberthe greatest biodiversity outside of the tropics in the entire Western HemisphereThe guests who meet Alan Muskat in their Asheville, North Carolina, hotel lobby at 10 a.m. are in for a different experience than most travelers wandering downstairs for breakfast.If you’re looking to take the local movement to the extreme…Not only can foraging help you survive in an emergency, it can be a means of diversifying and supplementing your diet with fresh, truly local foods.Dissen describes Muskat’s approach as “brilliant,” likening the program to “Disney World for adults.”widely regarded as one of the most knowledgeable experts in the rare field of mycologyIt's a rare entrepreneur that can succeed on a model based on an element of danger. Muskat is like the Appalachian version of the sushi chef who specializes in fugu.Muskat is a showman...Muskat is somewhat of a pioneer, harvesting all sorts of creepy crawlies with which to experiment.