Taste Of The Forest: Hen Of The Woods Experience

Date: Friday, November 13, 2026
Time: 6:00 PM
Location: Mushroom Mountain
200 Finley Rd., Easley, SC 29642

Five Courses. One Mushroom. A Whole Different Way to Experience Maitake.

Maitake — also known as Hen of the Woods — is one of those mushrooms that can completely transform depending on how you cook it.

Crisp the edges and it becomes deeply savory and almost meaty. Roast it and the fronds caramelize. Pair it with rich sauces, bright acids, seasonal vegetables, or unexpected ingredients and it becomes something entirely different again.

On Friday, November 13, Chef Shaun Thompson returns to Mushroom Mountain for another Taste of the Forest dinner, this time creating an entire five-course dining experience centered around maitake mushrooms.

This isn't simply dinner with mushrooms added to the plate.

Maitake is the reason for the dinner.

Chef Shaun will use five courses to explore the flavor, texture, versatility, and downright deliciousness of one of our favorite mushrooms.

The Experience

Over the course of the evening, you'll enjoy:

• Five chef-created courses featuring maitake
• A completely original menu created specifically for this event
• Seasonal ingredients paired with one of fall's great mushrooms
• An intimate sit-down dinner at Mushroom Mountain
• A chance to experience the same mushroom prepared in dramatically different ways
• Great food, conversation, and plenty of mushroom people around the table

The complete menu will be announced as the event approaches — but if you've attended one of Chef Shaun's previous Taste of the Forest dinners, you already know he doesn't play it safe.

Meet Chef Shaun Thompson

Chef Shaun Thompson has become part of the Taste of the Forest experience here at Mushroom Mountain.

For our spring Morel Experience, Shaun designed an entire five-course menu around morels, taking them from classic cream of morel soup and savory tarts all the way to crispy “mock calamari,” short rib pappardelle, and even candied morels for dessert.

He returned for our Chopped Mushroom Challenge, putting his creativity to work across another mushroom-centered multi-course dinner.

Now we're handing him maitake.

We cannot wait to see what he does with it.

Why Maitake?

If you have only sautéed maitake in a pan, you've barely scratched the surface.

Its branching clusters create an incredible combination of tender centers, crispy edges, and deep umami flavor. It can stand up to bold ingredients while still being delicate enough for more refined preparations.

That's what makes it such a fun mushroom for a five-course dinner.

Instead of simply telling you maitake is versatile, we're going to feed you the proof.

Event Details

Date: Friday, November 13, 2026
Time: 6:00 PM
Location: Mushroom Mountain
200 Finley Rd., Easley, SC 29642

Ticket Price: $110 per person
Capacity: Limited to 20 guests
Dinner: Five chef-curated courses featuring maitake mushrooms
Chef: Shaun Thompson

Guests are welcome to bring their own wine or other alcoholic beverages.

Pricing

Ticket Price: $110 per person

Your ticket includes a five-course, chef-curated maitake mushroom dinner prepared by Chef Shaun Thompson, served in an intimate setting at Mushroom Mountain.

This is a seated, small-group experience designed for maximum flavor, connection, and seasonal magic.

Why You Should Join This Event

Maitake deserves more than a quick sauté.
This mushroom has incredible texture, deep savory flavor, and the ability to completely change depending on how it is prepared.

It's not just dinner — it's a curated experience.
Each course is intentionally designed by Chef Shaun to showcase a different side of maitake.

Five courses you won't find on a restaurant menu.
This is a one-night-only menu created specifically for this event.

Only 20 seats.
This is a slow, communal evening meant to be savored with people who love food, mushrooms, and trying something different.

BYO drinks, elevated food.
Bring the wine you love and pair it exactly how you want.

If you love mushrooms, seasonal food, and meaningful experiences, this is the kind of dinner you'll remember.

Ticket Policy & Important Details

• Limited Seating: Attendance is capped at 20 guests to keep the dinner intimate.
• Advance Purchase Required: Tickets must be purchased in advance. No tickets will be sold at the door.
• Non-Refundable Tickets: All ticket sales are final. Due to advance food preparation, no refunds will be issued.
• Transferable Tickets: If you can't attend, you may transfer your ticket to another guest. Please let us know so we can update the guest list.
• Bring Your Own Beverages: Guests are welcome to bring wine or other beverages of their choice.

By purchasing a ticket, you agree to these terms and understand that this is a curated, limited-capacity experience.

Come hungry.

You may never look at Hen of the Woods the same way again.