Sunday, November 07, 2010

Oyster Mushroom Kit Giveaway

Giveaway time! I was recently contacted by Back to the Roots, a 100% sustainable urban mushroom farm. Here's the brief story on this company:

Two young, creative-minded guys are about to graduate from university, and during their last semester, they take on an experiment.  They discover they can grow gourmet mushrooms entirely on recycled coffee grounds!  They decide to turn down their awaiting job offers and become full-time mushroom farmers.  And, before any parents out their shudder at that thought of turning down reliable salaries to grow some mushrooms, this little venture has bloomed!  Back to the Roots now produces about 500 lbs/week of fresh oyster mushrooms.  And, they are doing some environmental good by diverting 10,000 lbs/wk of coffee grounds from Peet's Coffee & Tea to use as soil for the mushrooms.

Earlier this year, they launched an Easy-to-Grow Gourmet Mushroom Garden.  This allows home cooks to grow up to 1 lb of delicious oyster mushrooms at home in as little as 10 days, and yield multiple crops.  Very little effort it required, just need to leave it indoors on a kitchen window-sill (and this kit also uses recycled coffee grounds)!  I haven't tried the kit myself, but love the idea.  Often, I see oyster mushrooms in the store, and they are way past fresh and not worth buying.  To have the freshest oyster mushrooms at your fingertips - delightful!

These kits are available in many Whole Foods stores, but they are giving one away to one of you! (must be a US resident)  Also, they are offering a 20% discount to my readers for any online orders.  Use this code
bevegan20 (exp. 11/15/2010).

For your chance to win, simply enter your comment on this post (one comment per person).  You can just leave your name, or tell us how you'd cook or prepare those fresh oyster mushrooms!  I will announce the winner this coming week.* 

Also, you may be interested to know that through the month of November, Back to the Roots is working on a big campaign to raise money for the Susan G. Komen Foundation for breast cancer awareness (donating 5% of all sales). They feel it's a great way to educate the community on the health benefits of oyster mushrooms, and also give back to a cause close to their hearts, as one of the co-founders is a cancer survivor.

So, go ahead and enter, and also check out this clips of Nikhil and Alex, the founders of Back to the Roots, on the Carson Daly show:

*I prefer not to ask for e-mail addresses for contests, as this publicizes e-mail addresses for any and all readers.  So, when I have announced the winner, I will have that person e-mail me so we can arrange further details.

74 comments:

radioactivegan said...

what a cool idea. I've never cooked with oyster mushrooms because, like you said, the ones at stores always look pretty rough. I'd be very interested to try it out,

Anonymous said...

I <3 mushrooms!!

I would definitely make Wild Oyster Mushroom Stew from veg-world.com.

celyn said...

I think that when you have really gorgeous fresh mushrooms, it's fun to just roast them simply with salt, pepper, olive oil, and perhaps an herb. Thank you for the giveaway!speta

supercarrot said...

i've never had an oyster mushroom before, but they look yummy!

Unknown said...

i never really win stuff but i am SO excited to hear about this! i have been wanting a mushroom kit for a long time and this one sounds awesome!

Anonymous said...

Yay! This looks fun!

bellbottoms809@gmail.com

Rachel said...

I've been wanting one of these since I first saw them a few weeks ago. I would make risotto with them and it would be amazing!

Anonymous said...

That is just too neat! I have never tried oyster mushrooms but I did just try chanterelle mushrooms.

Anonymous said...

tempura battered mushrooms yum!!!

The RxT said...

What a great idea! I'd probably throw them in a soup or stir fry.

Laura said...

My fiance has actually been buying up lots of mushroom books so he can start rowing them in our loft! We've been using mushrooms a lot in our cooking lately. Oyster, shitake, beech. Oyster mushrooms are my favourite. So meaty.

Anonymous said...

This is the perfect gift for my husband! We've been talking about growing our own mushrooms for years. The time is now! Thanks for the fun giveaway :-)

Stephanie said...

Oyster mushrooms are my absolute favorite! I'd make mushroom stuffing and, of course, regular old mushrooms sauteed in EB if I had fresh oysters to use.

T said...

Love mushrooms and agree they always seem to be past their fresh stage at the store:(

Thanks for the giveaway!

Chicky said...

I always wanted to try growing my own mushrooms. I use them in so many recipes.

S. said...

i was just looking at their site a couple of days ago. i've managed to kill everything i've tried to grow in my window seal with the exception of green onions. i really want to try this out but am a little hesitant with my death-curse thumb

megs said...

Maybe something breaded and fried. I crave le fried in autumn!

Doreen said...

Yummy! I would probably try them in a stir fry.

Estrella said...

Love it! Want it! Thanks for the post! It looks like an awesome idea.

Unknown said...

i think id make this recipe:
http://vegandad.blogspot.com/2010/01/potato-and-oyster-mushroom-curry.html
but mushrooms go well in so many dishes. they'd never go unused

Ryan said...

Cool idea and it is especially attractive since it recycles coffee grounds. That would be helpful with all the coffee I personally go through.

Very interested in trying to cook with fresh oyster mushrooms rather than what I find in the store.

Addicted to Scrubs said...

I, too, have had less than good luck finding nice oyster mushrooms in stores. The first thing I would do would be to use them in a stuffing for a homemade tofu-seitan unturkey for Thanksgiving. The next thing would definitely be an oyster mushroom chowder. Then I'd saute them in olive oil with garlic, thyme and rosemary, and serve them side-by-side with shiitakes prepared the same way, as an appetizer. I could go on but will spare you a looong list . . .

vijita said...

I would saute them over high heat with a tiny bit of coconut oil with some garlic, then add black pepper, red pepper flakes, and splashes of both lemon juice and tamari. Oyster mushrooms are my favorites!

Corrin said...

I would love an oyster mushroom kit. I love them in soups and as "calamari".

Anonymous said...

Wow! What an awesome idea...growing mushrooms in your own home. I would definitely use the oyster mushrooms to make Chinese mushroom leek dumplings.

-Allen

Rob D said...

My favorite way to cook oyster mushrooms is the Fried Oyster Mushroom Calamari recipe in Eric Tucker's "The Artful Vegan."

Natalie Duhamel, HHC said...

Brilliant! Please count me in :-)

Meggie said...

I would saute them with some onions and then throw them on a sandwich!

Henson Clan of the North said...

I'd saute them and use them as a topping for pasta or maybe a bruschetta.

Catherine Weber said...

I love mushrooms of any kind. Let's see . . . curry, miso soup, and pizza come to mind!

Jade said...

I love mushrooms! I have never cooked with oyster mushrooms, but I would love to use them in a stir-fry!

SimplytoDelight said...

I love mushrooms, although have never cooked with oyster mushrooms. I would love to try them and this looks like a great gift for some of the people on my list :)

Chelsea said...

Yum. So many things sound delish, but I think the mushroom stew sounds especially great!
Chelsea B

Roxan said...

Oh this looks so fun! I would love to have a little mushroom garden of my own.

I'd make a delicious pasta sauce! Or soup.

anna said...

Would totally saute them with shallots, fingerling potatoes, some white wine and rosemary, and serve with green beans. Yum!

Sanni said...

i would make mushroom pesto pizza

Melissa said...

I would use them to make the Paella from The Conscious Cook by Tal Ronnen. It calls for 2 pounds of oyster mushrooms!

Anonymous said...

Oh my gosh, that sounds WONDERFUL. I would use them in stir fries, soups, ANYTHING!

Anonymous said...

Sauteed with some leeks and butter with gluten free pasta!
We tried growing our own recently, not from a kit though, and they didn't work. So I'd love to try theirs!

Lyndz said...

my husband is really into mushrooms right now! He is out hunting for oyster mushrooms as we speak! He wants to use them on pizza! He would really love this kit!

MDubya said...

Yum! If I won this kit I'd make delicious vegan scampi, stir-fries and stews!!! The possibilities are endless!

mobilediesel said...

Those would go great in mushroom risotto!

Anonymous said...

How cool is that?! I love mushrooms!

Courtney

MeganV said...

What a neat little kit!
I think with some fresh oyster mushrooms I'd make a sort of stuffing or a nice hearty soup to warm up with in this cool weather.

Anna said...

That's such a neat idea! I'd love to try this out, mushrooms are so amazing. I bet they'd be phenomenal roasted or tossed with pasta.

sals said...

love mushrooms! I love this idea.

Anonymous said...

ooh I would make this mushroom stock recipe that was in this month's Veg Times!

Anonymous said...

mushroom risotto...mmmmm

Nichole said...

yay for grow-at-home mushrooms!

i've been wanting to try this recipe from "the best of vegan cooking": grilled king oyster mushrooms with avocado and charred jalapeno oil. the picture is so drool-worthy!

Mia said...

duxelles (with vegan margarine, of course)! For use in Macaroni & Cheez :)

Anonymous said...

Emily
leavesareyummy@ix.netcom.com

I would try to use them in a raw recipe for a replacement for scallops!!

Vic Robinson said...

wow! this is totally bad ass! i cant even thing of a single recipe, there are to many! Scalloped mushrooms jump to mind! Yum!

Anonymous said...

Oyster Mushroom kit for the pork book stuffing!!!

kimmctyre@yahoo.ca

Kim

singerinkitchen said...

I have seen these and would really like one! I would make my mushroom pate! So good with sauteed onions and toasted almonds. YUM!

Keri - I Eat Trees said...

I've seen a lot of oyster mushroom recipes around the blog world lately and I've never tried them! It would be hard to choose.. but probably something with a creamy vegan alfredo sauce!

Unknown said...

I love mushrooms! I would use these for a yummy winter risotto.

Vegan Nutritionista said...

I've always been intrigued by the idea of growing my own mushrooms. I'd use them all the time in so many dishes. These are going on my list for Santa this year!

Punkin Nerd said...

I might get recipe anxiety with all the yummy mushroom recipes. I also think its honorable of them to donate a portion of sales to breast cancer awareness. Thanks!

Marc said...

I <3 oyster mushrooms! They make the best vegan gravy :)

Cat said...

LOVE oyster mushrooms! They are my favorite. I prepare them Millenium-style: like calamari, dredged in flour, fried and served with a spicy dipping sauce.

Rubber Cowgirl said...

Oh, I want to grow my own oyster mushrooms! I'm imagining them sliced and simmering in a white wine risotto...

Lauren said...

Either roast or stir fry! What a cool giveaway, so different.

embryoconcepts said...

While it'd be great to win, I'd planned on doing this for some friends (and myself!) this holiday season. This would be much easier for my parents than drilling holes in a log!

Spokesgirl said...

MMMMMMMMM. Oyster Mushrooms.

Julie said...

Sounds fabulous!! A few months ago, I veganized my husband's favorite dish from his native country/culture - Moroccan b'stilla, but the spicy variety (the non-veg kind has shrimp, calamari, and fish in it). I put oyster mushrooms in it and it was fantastic!! I'd love to try it again.

Ela said...

I would definitely do something simple with these. Saute and served with grilled polenta.

madeinalaska said...

I would make soups, gravy, rissoto o my..
julee@douglas.net

madeinalaska said...

yes, I would make it all sounds so good.. soups, gravy, rissoto..
julee@douglas.net

Christina said...

These sound super cool, and it's a great way to recycle waste.

I would tempura some, add some to a red pepper and broccoli stir fry, and sauté some with smoked sea salt to put in maki rolls.

Sara D. said...

I would simply saute them. I love mushrooms!

novajen said...

I think I'd make a mushroom bruschetta.

Dorissa said...

Oyster mushrooms sauteed with garlic and onions and herbs from the garden tossed with steamed green beans.

Thanks! Dorissa Mitchell

Anonymous said...

I would eat them raw in salads, pates, marinated and rolled in kale or collard leaves.
Thanks for the offer.
Sunny

thomasgalvin said...

Amazing idea. Though i have not tried it but i will try it soon.
Thanks for sharing..