Mushrooms serve as an important element to the Russian diet, and mushroom hunting is a tradition some Russians take seriously. If you've never been mushroom hunting in Russia (or elsewhere), be sure to take an experienced guide with you who can help you identify safe mushrooms and avoid harmful ones. Or, if you don't want to trek through the forest to gather mushrooms yourself, look for pickled, dried, or fresh mushrooms at outdoor markets or sold on the side of the road. Barring that, try tasty mushroom dishes at local restaurants to appreciate why Russian mushrooms are so coveted.
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Mushrooms in a Russian Khokhloma-Style Bowl photo credit: iStockphoto/Serega
