"In autumn, just as soon as the mushrooms start popping up throughout our woods and the cool, crisp air is filled with chimney smoke from aged oak," says Maryjo Koch, "I notice mushroom foragers with baskets or burlap sacks scurrying around the woods looking for their favorite wild mushrooms. Our town celebrates the arrival of mushroom season with an annual mushroom festival.
"Mushrooms are always favorites botanical subjects in my painting classes. We study books of botanical styles of the Old Masters for inspiration and students are served this mushroom tart filled with smoky mozzarella and Parmigiano-Reggiano cheeses for our class lunch. My daughter Sunny artfully arranges woodsy mushrooms and fennel fronds from the garden on the surface of the tart to resemble an antique botanical print, a case of life imitating art.
"To create your own botanical mushroom tart, practice arranging your pan-browned mushrooms on a paper towel cut to the same size as your tart pan. Add fennel fronds in between the mushrooms until you find an arrangement that you like. Transfer your design to the partially baked tart and return it to the oven." -
The Artist, the Cook, and the Gardener