NEW CULINARY HIGHLIGHTS
From small and large mushroom producers: Our journey through the world of Swiss mushrooms
Recently, we had the pleasure of visiting two extraordinary Swiss mushroom producers. This journey took us from a state-of-the-art large-scale operation to an innovative young entrepreneur – both united by their profound dedication to mushroom cultivation.
October 2024
Mushrooms are the new stars in the kitchen – or so it seems. Their diversity makes them the ideal partner for creative dishes and sustainable meat alternatives. In cultivation, too, there seem to be no limits to the imagination. We took a look behind the scenes at our Swiss mushroom producers Kernser Edelpilze and PilzChef.
Looking like a work of art – the lion’s mane mushroom, with its unique form, is reminiscent of a cauliflower. It is perfectly suited as a meat substitute.
Kernser Edelpilze: Sustainability meets innovation
Located in picturesque Kerns is the company Kernser Edelpilze, a production facility specializing in the sustainable cultivation of noble mushrooms. Here, organic gourmet mushrooms are grown on an impressive scale. What particularly fascinated us: despite the size of the operation, the quality remains consistently premier class.
The mushrooms from Kernser are not only certified organic but also intensely flavorful, with an aroma reminiscent of wild mushrooms. The secret? A self-produced mushroom substrate consisting mainly of Swiss wood.
Hidden behind massive doors: Christian Fanger leads us through the extensive production rooms at Kernser Edelpilze.
What is particularly striking: the rooms are all sealed with large, heavy doors and can be managed and monitored via external displays. This ensures each room has its own specific settings, depending on the climate required by the mushroom cultures being grown inside.
Bianchi mushroom buyer Antonio Pugliese with Christian Fanger during the inspection of the mushroom cultures.
Mature substrate bags, fully permeated with mycelium, begin to produce mushrooms.
Pilzchef GmbH: Precision and passion for extraordinary varieties
A passionate entrepreneur: Lorenzo Falcone has fulfilled his dream of a gourmet mushroom farm in the industrial area of Effretikon.
A passionate entrepreneur: Lorenzo Falcone has fulfilled his dream of a gourmet mushroom farm in the industrial area of Effretikon.
Our next visit takes us to Effretikon. Here, Pilzchef GmbH, under the leadership of Lorenzo Falcone, operates a mushroom cultivation start-up. In a rather inconspicuous, gray industrial hall, colorful and rare mushrooms grow, such as the royal blue oyster mushroom or the impressive lion’s mane, which visually resembles cauliflower and is excellent as a meat substitute. Lorenzo has scaled his production in an impressive manner over recent years and today supplies his mushrooms to numerous Zurich restaurants via Bianchi. The precision with which the mushroom cultivation is carried out is remarkable. Exact control over temperature, light, and humidity is crucial for quality.
The lemon-yellow oyster mushroom while growing: Its flavor makes it ideal for salads & stir-fries.
The lemon-yellow oyster mushroom while growing: Its flavor makes it ideal for salads & stir-fries.
Precision as the key to successful mushroom cultivation
Growing mushrooms requires an extremely precise approach. Since there are millions of mushroom spores in the air, it must be ensured that only the desired varieties thrive on the nutrient medium. For this purpose, the substrate is sterilized before being inoculated with the selected spores. These are then permeated by the mycelium structure. This all takes place in plastic bags, from which the mushrooms later sprout. The process consists of numerous steps – between 25 and 35 – before the mushrooms can be harvested.
An elaborate process involving much manual labor: The beginning of a new mushroom culture.
An elaborate process involving much manual labor: The beginning of a new mushroom culture.
Bianchi: Your supplier for the finest Swiss mushrooms
These visits have confirmed once again: when it comes to mushrooms, Switzerland has a great deal to offer. Whether a large-scale producer or a start-up grower – the passion for high-quality mushrooms is palpable everywhere.
We are delighted to be able to offer you these premier Swiss products at Bianchi and are excited to see which culinary masterpieces you will create with them.
