36 Comments
User's avatar
Charlotte Wagster's avatar

Wow! I had no idea about your great grandfather being a writer! How fascinating. And how curious that the two of you both have a love for hiking the mountains and wood.

Expand full comment
Harrison's avatar

Glad you enjoyed Charlotte!!

Expand full comment
Bronwen Butter Newcott's avatar

This is so much fun. it must have been amazing to play detective and put all of this together. I love the journey. I've never tried chicken of the woods but i hope it get to. Thanks for sharing this.

Expand full comment
Harrison's avatar

thanks for your kind words Bronwen - it was fascinating!!! In fact, I am still playing catch up, going back and reading all Henry's poetry and novels

Expand full comment
Perzen Patel's avatar

I love the excerpts of the memoir you shared and what a great connection. History has a lot to teach us. The recipe sounds simple yet tasty. You reckon it would work with other kinds of mushrooms us plebs “forage” at the supermarket 🤪?

Expand full comment
Harrison's avatar

For sure you can try other mushrooms! although you won't get that chicken flavor of course...

Expand full comment
Wendy Blank's avatar

I wish I had known you sooner. What a legacy you and your family have. You are very fortunate.

Expand full comment
Harrison's avatar

aw thanks Wendy!!

Expand full comment
Jenny Ouyang's avatar

This is so sweet to read!

Expand full comment
Harrison's avatar

glad you liked it Jenny!

Expand full comment
Lori Olson White's avatar

What a great bit of your culinary and family history!

Expand full comment
Harrison's avatar

thanks Lori!!

Expand full comment
Richard Goldberg's avatar

Great article! Thanks for the mushroom recipe.

Richard

Expand full comment
Harrison's avatar

Glad you enjoyed Richard!

Expand full comment
Freda Heights's avatar

This was such a great read, Harrison. I loved how you tied your own story to your great-grandfather’s; his voice really jumps off the page.

The bits about him knowing F. Scott Fitzgerald and Robert Frost were especially fascinating. It’s wild to think about someone that close to you brushing shoulders with those literary giants, and even more wild how down-to-earth he seemed about it all.

Thanks for sharing something so personal and rich with history. Subscribed (:

Expand full comment
Harrison's avatar

Awe thanks Freda! Piecing it all together was a shocker, especially given my upbringing within that higher ed culture that places such an curricular emphasis on the writing of Fitzgerald and Frost.

Expand full comment
Melissa Norman's avatar

What an interesting guy your great grandfather was.

Expand full comment
Harrison's avatar

sure was Melissa :)

Expand full comment
Aman Gope's avatar

Interesting read, loved it.

Expand full comment
Harrison's avatar

thanks Aman!

Expand full comment
Ellen Kornmehl MD's avatar

Very charming post- I assume chicken of the woods is the maitake aka Hen-of the-Wood- I love your fearless foraging

Expand full comment
Harrison's avatar

thanks Ellen! In fact, chicken of the woods and hen of woods are two distinct mushrooms with different flavors

Expand full comment
Betty Williams's avatar

What a wonderful glimpse into your family tree! And those mushrooms are so interesting. I never knew about them!

Expand full comment
Harrison's avatar

thanks Betty!

Expand full comment
jess's avatar

from the personal history and school days, to your grandfather's words and presence, and on to the garlic scapes and aroma of COTW - it's all enriching!

Expand full comment
Harrison's avatar

thanks Jess :)

Expand full comment
Food Friends's avatar

What a great story!

Expand full comment
Harrison's avatar

thanks :)

Expand full comment
Alexander Chee's avatar

Very fun. Thank you!

Expand full comment
Harrison's avatar

glad you enjoyed Alexander!

Expand full comment
Bernardette Hernández's avatar

Loved this story Harrison!

Expand full comment
Harrison's avatar

glad you enjoyed it Bernardette!

Expand full comment