looking for huitlacoche in Chicago

Does anyone know a local Chicago resource for huitlacoche--fresh or canned?

Most years, Henry's Farmat the Evanston Farmers Market sells it fresh. Check with Henry when (or slightly before) the local corn comes into the market.

Hi,

I have frozen huitlacoche from Florida. I believe I paid around $38 for a two pounds.

To find it fresh in this area is really a fluke. In this region, corn smut is a pest with people growing resistant strains. Every once in a while I will buy 1-2 bags of corn consisting of 60 ears each. On a good day, I might find 1-2 ears of corn with corn smut. Several years ago a friend brought back a shopping bag filled with corn smut infested corn from around Effingham. These were rejects from her brother's corn field. I brought some to an LTHforum event as my contribution to show-and-tell.

I have seen canned huitlacoche in Mexican shops. Los Mogotes de Michoacan has huitlacoche quesadillas on their menu. I believe they use canned huitlacoche.

Los Mogotes de Michoacan
4959 North Kedzie Avenue
Chicago 60625
773/463-5612
Daily: 9 AM - 10 PM

Taqueria Los Mogotes De Michoacan
2069 Greenbay Rd.
Highland Park, IL 60035
Tel: 847/ 432.5667

Regards,

thanks for your info. on the huitlacoche search--can you recall
where you have found the canned? Also--I think when I was
in Mexico, I may have only been served canned--do you know how to
prepare fresh? Thanks so much--I am trying to make
something yummy for my husband next week and he loves this!

Hi,

Mushroom the Magazine had huitlacoche article and recipes about two years ago. You may try contacting the publisher, who rarely posts here as Mycoman, at: leon@mushroomthemagazine.com

Regards,

I know I've seen canned huitlacoche at Carneceria Jiminez at Dundee and Wheeling Roads in Wheeling.

I last saw fresh huitlacoche, not knowing what it was, about ten years ago on popcorn I was trying to grow in the back yard. Pretty freaky stuff.

I just had some wonderful huitlacoche at Salpicon. I'll bet if you called them (or even Frontera/Topolobampo) they'd provide you with names of suppliers.

For those interested, Steve, of "Steve Don't Eat It!" ate it:

http://www.thesneeze.com/mt-archives/000344.php

The ex-head chef at Frontera/Topolobampo, Tracy Vowell, has recently started her own farm in Kankakee. She is apparently very interested in producing huitlacoche. I don't know how to get a hold of her, but she is going to be at a cooking class with Jackie Chen at Red Light on Sunday.

Details here...http://www.redlight-chicago.com/

I'm sure Frontera would have her information as well.

On Saturday, Henry was selling huitlacoche at his Evanston Farmers' Market stall. One of the farmers told me that it was the largest crop he'd seen in five years. Henry wanted $3 for one small fungus-covered ear.

--Molly

Quesadillas made with fresh huitlacoche are currently on the menu at Los Huaraches in Northbrook. The owner told me that it's fairly hard to find but that he'd have it on the menu for about the next month or so. It may be worth a call or a visit. Perhaps he'll share his source.

=R=

Los Huaraches
3482 Milwaukee Avenue (at Sanders)
Northbrook, IL
847 827-8653

Los Tamales on 16th St. in Cicero has it on their menu, but I've never tried it. Call ahead as they make different items daily, based on availability.

Fresh huitlacoche today from Henry's Farm at Evanston Farmers' Market ... $3 per ear (which isn't bad, compared to the price of other exotic mushrooms).

Now - what to do with it? I'm thinking ravioli, but I'm open to other suggestions.

Just a quick addendum: Henry actually seems to price the huitlacoche based on how much is on the ear. So if you want a mere taste, he will go as low as 50 cents for an ear without much fungus on it.

OK, one more addendum; I hadn't realized that the OP had also requested sources for canned. The Morse Market has canned huitlacoche for about $4/can, but I can't recall how many ounces.

Morse Fruit & Meat Market
Neighborhood: Rogers Park
1430 W Morse Ave
(between Glenwood Ave & Greenview Ave)
Chicago, IL 60626
(773) 973-3765

While I've enjoyed Huitlachoche many times in restaurants (Salpicon's Quesadillas are dreamy) I was thinking it would be fun to prepare some dishes at home with this nasty looking fungus. Does anyone know where to find the stuff apart from tromping through corn fields in Wisconsin? I've got all Saturday to track it down.

I have eaten this many times at maxwel st. market in tacos. very delicious.

I was just at Carniceria Jimenez yesterday, and I noticed that they have it in cans. It was spelled slightly differently (I think it started with a g), but the translation made it clear it was the same stuff. I was at the Wheeling CJ, but they have several locations.

Cynthia wrote:I was just at Carniceria Jimenez yesterday, and I noticed that they have it in cans. It was spelled slightly differently (I think it started with a g), but the translation made it clear it was the same stuff. I was at the Wheeling CJ, but they have several locations.

Its sometimes called "Cuitlacoche". I recently bought some at the Jimenez in Hanover Park.

I have seen canned Goya brand Huitlacoche at the Tony's Foods on Elston.

http://www.goya.com/english/products/pr ... ubCatID=26 (scroll down)

Tonys Finer Foods
(773) 866-0010
4137 N Elston Ave
Chicago, IL 60618

The September issue of Gourmet lists two sources for fresh (when in season) and frozen huitlacoche: Burns Farms - 352.429.4048 and Fresh & Wild, Inc. - 800.222.5578.

Also, on her website, Zarela Martinez mentions Burns Farms and briefly discusses huitlacoche. So if you ever strike out with all of the local markets, there is always the canned product as well as some non-local purveyors. She also provides the recipe for a dish which sounds quite good, a Layered Crepe Dish with Huitlacoche.