Seniors who remember mushrooms from magical moments in their youth are re-discovering the culinary properties of these fungi. (They are not vegetables). If you haven’t tried a porcini risotto, my heart goes out to you. Right now is the beginning of prime mushroom stalking season, when the weather is both wet and warm. There are over 590 species in California, many surreally exotic and a few frankly fatal. Best to put yourself in the hands of seasoned mycologists who have both classes and field trips. Here are a couple of reliable ones: