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Jess Liotta 🍄

@jessliotta.bsky.social
1.4K followers 451 following 5.7K posts

Dual class 🇺🇸/🇮🇹 (siciliana, e imparando italiano). I’m a mushroom forager, parent to two very cool kids, silken windhound owner, and food obsessive; be ready for me to be annoying about all the above. PNW now, CA before, PNW before that. She/her

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Jess Liotta 🍄 @jessliotta.bsky.social · 21h
Just a reminder that the PNW is fucking jaw dropping. Cascadia primacy 4 ever
A trail through mossy mixed growth temperate rain forest Sunlight through conifers in an abandoned decommissioned campground in the Olympic national forest. The moss was so thick it felt like a springy carpet
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Jess Liotta 🍄 @jessliotta.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
Folks behind me in line at Hama Hama oysters were debating wine bottles, and I unsolicitedly turned and was like “they have a Sicilian grillo and if I wasn’t by myself I would absolutely get it, you never see it here and it’s made for seafood” They did & liked it so much they shared some with me 🥲
A glass of grillo and hood canal and oysters
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Jess Liotta 🍄 @jessliotta.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
By FAR the thing I make with the widest delta between its photogenic-ness and taste is the kachka braised chanterelles in smetana & cream. It looks like a pile of brown split glop but it tastes like actual magic. Paired here with QFC bakery bread & a pan seared commodity pork loin chop. Heaven
The described foods arrayed on a plate but still basically brown on brown on beige on beige
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Jess Liotta 🍄 @jessliotta.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
5. The tell tale matsutake cinnamon funk scent is potentially helpful supporting info, but these can grow literally right next to each other. It’s theoretically possible for the amanita to pick up some of it. Unlikely, but possible! But as a pretty subjective ID feature scent isn’t best here anyway
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Jess Liotta 🍄 @jessliotta.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
3. Matsutake will always have a podzol covered grey sandy “foot,” the amanita will be pointier and more duff-dirty 4. The cross section of an amanita will show a faint outline of the mushroom cap near the top (see photo) and the matsutake will mostly BE cap and stipe
Cross section of amanita egg showing faint outline of mushroom at the tippy top
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Jess Liotta 🍄 @jessliotta.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
There are a few differentiating features from a smith’s amanita egg & a wee matsutake! 1. The fluffy veil remnants on the outside of an amanita will be loose and likely come off/stick to your hands. It’s schmutzy 2. It will be brittle if squeezed; a matsutake is FIRM and will not explode to bits
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Jess Liotta 🍄 @jessliotta.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
I mean, it’s not NOT giving Georgia O’Keeffe
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Jess Liotta 🍄 @jessliotta.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
Here is a very, very nice mushroom
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Jess Liotta 🍄 @jessliotta.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
Oh yeah and this was my ratio of chanterelles to matsutake today. They made me WORK for every one. So much goddamn walking!! But I had a good feeling about where I was and I really believed that they’d be there if I was gonna find any this week, and lo and behold…!
A table covered with at dozens and dozens and dozens of least two maybe three MAYBE FOUR(!) chanterelle species, and a small towel with 18 matsutake (almost all grade 1 and a couple grade 2)The perfect lil matsutake lineup. The last two are grade 2 the rest grade 1
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Jess Liotta 🍄 @jessliotta.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
Two and a half damn days wandering around the woods and FINALLY today I hit what I’ve really been looking for
A matsutake cap poking out of the mossy duffTwo perfect matsutake visible in the moss
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Jess Liotta 🍄 @jessliotta.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
This is pretty much just Saturday night familyfriend dinner at my house tbh
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Jess Liotta 🍄 @jessliotta.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
Turned some of the buckets of chanterelles that I literally (like actually literally) cannot go into the forest without stepping on here into a risotto, with half a square of robiola cheese blended in, and leftover pintxos party salsa verde. And omg, I wish I could share this with all y’all
A truly lovely plate of chanterelle robiola risotto
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Jess Liotta 🍄 @jessliotta.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
Our new next door neighbors texted that they found a mummified possum skeleton-body under a shed they removed and asked do we want it? Including a photo (which will probably get me suspended if I post here lol). 10/10, we have clearly won the neighbor lottery
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Jess Liotta 🍄 @jessliotta.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
I’m not sure there’s a better feeling than stumbling onto this in a new-to-you patch of woods and then realizing it’s like that in absolutely every direction all around
A perfect golden chanterelle in the moss and salalChanterelles peeking out, everywhere A chanterelles visible under a nurse log and another one barely visible behind
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Jess Liotta 🍄 @jessliotta.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
I did famously dress to impress at my Trackers interview by bringing bacon I had cured and smoked from a pig I butchered myself, although admittedly I didn’t do any of that AT the interview. Probably would have scored even more major points if yes tho
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Jess Liotta 🍄 @jessliotta.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
There are few things I can relate to less than folks being stoked for the chill fall nip in the air. Like ok I get into the food and the clothes I haven’t worn for awhile, for the novelty. I don’t even give a fuck about the dark tbh. But the cold returning is the fucking literal worst, i hate it
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Jess Liotta 🍄 @jessliotta.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
I’ve been striking out on Polyozellus (blue chanterelle) the last few years but NOT TODAY. These are Miro’s particular favorites; I’m gonna make pasta (which turns totally black!!) and smoked jerky I think!
A gorgeous Polyozellus multiplex fruiting in the duffJess holding up some Polyozellus looking stoked Another HUGE one with an opines mushroom knife on it for scale A little wee baby one coming out of hemlock needles
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Jess Liotta 🍄 @jessliotta.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
Today in the shrimpquarium everyone is pretty stoked about algae wafers (Also I hate the new light color gravel, but my African dwarf frog research persuaded me they’ll literally eat aquasoil and die so I capped it asap; gonna find some dark gravel and swap it out later)
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Jess Liotta 🍄 @jessliotta.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
We have a running bit in the group chat that’s basically “🚨Agnes Callard Mentioned (derogatory)🚨” and of course. Of COURSE her name is in this list of slimeballs
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Jess Liotta 🍄 @jessliotta.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
I mostly forgot to get glamor shots before they went into their holders last night but here they are. Those kids do not know how good they have it i tell you WHAT
A peach pie which I wish you could smell through the screen. Used the last good farmers market peaches for this and the fact that I don’t get any is low-key killing meA coconut cream pie, reprised from what I sent to the retreats last year (when I just made the one because other parents also volunteered; Miro reports it was the first one to go and they barely got a piece before it was annihilated lol)Conventional double chocolate pie with a toasted marshmallow meringue top One of the two gluten free chocolate marshmallow pies - they turned out tiny so one filling recipe filled two shelled and hell, why not, I sent ‘em both
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Jess Liotta 🍄 @jessliotta.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
Guess who volunteered to make 3 different conventional pies (and one gluten free) for the kids’ school retreat tomorrow because the sign up sheet was awfully slim and she’ll be damned if the kids will eat supermarket bakery pie
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Jess Liotta 🍄 @jessliotta.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
I’ve had good luck upping my Indian food game by picking a region and cooking the local version of a slate of things. My favorite resource for regionally specific Indian cuisine the gold standard is India Cookbook by Pushpesh Pant. NB it is, um… eccentrically organized and light on context. HOWEVER
India Cookbook by Pushpesh Pant, a hetty tome, with many bookmark sticker annotations by me
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Jess Liotta 🍄 @jessliotta.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
Made Lucknow style lamb biryani at home tonight (and also same area styles of chicken korma and baingan bharta) and dang. I am a believer now of Lucknowi biryani supremacy
A plabowl with lamb biryani, chicken korma, some chutney, baingan bharta, and a papadum
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Jess Liotta 🍄 @jessliotta.bsky.social · 20/09/2026
Shout out to the two charming queer fellas at the fish store who, while we were chatting about tricky-to-grow-aquatic plants, somehow kept neutral faces when I said “oh yeah, I’ve definitely shoved in a LOT of weird stuff”
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Coach Finstock @coachfinstock.bsky.social · 19/09/2026
Tilly Norwood is a nepo baby her dad was in GI Joe
youtu.be
Fensler GI Joe PSA 15: Help Computer [HQ]
YouTube video by Moxie Sideshow™
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Jess Liotta 🍄 @jessliotta.bsky.social · 18/09/2026
If you blend 5-6 garlic cloves, an entire small bunch of tarragon, several spoonfuls of Dijon & an equal quantity of kewpie mayo, a quantity of knorr chicken bouillon, olive oil salt & pepper and put it on a chicken to roast It is. VERY good. (And pairs great with a late summer tomato Dijon tart)
A roast chicken with that paste all over it as well as under the skin. I don’t even like tarragon much but this was a true 10/10A beautiful tomato tart. Under the tomatoes is a sprinkling of coolea cheese, a basil parsley garlic herb paste, and a layer of thinly spread Dijon. Thank u Deb Perelman whose publishing of this recipe many years ago created an annual tradition for us
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Jess Liotta 🍄 @jessliotta.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
The delta between how moss smells in the forest (verdant, woodsy, clean, enticing) and how moss slurry for propagating into terrariums or aquariums smells (rotten, horrifying, putrid, repulsive) is approximately one hundred thousand miles wide
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Maybe It Will Happen Today @today-maybe.bsky.social · 21/04/2025
Digital illustration drawn in a loose sketchy pencil style of four small, generalized sparrow-type birds of no specific species perching in a tangle of branches. Near each bird are words in a hand drawn blackletter style reading ‘Maybe it’ll happen today’.
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Jess Liotta 🍄 @jessliotta.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
I just spent two days planting out Miro’s upgraded 15.7 gallon and Kai’s 26 gallon aquariums and I only superglued a plant to my own fingers ONCE.I deserve an award
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Jess Liotta 🍄 @jessliotta.bsky.social · 14/09/2026
Just finished recording another super fun episode as a mushroom-knowing guest on the Oregonian's Peak Northwest podcast, this time all about the marvelous matsutake. When the ep comes out I'll link to it and do a little thread about some of the wild, WILD history of matsutake foraging in the PNW
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Jess Liotta 🍄 @jessliotta.bsky.social · 14/09/2026
Fun fact: Miro basically does not swear, but will drop a fully unedited "FUCK her" whenever she comes up in conversation. And when you get that kind of language from actual nicest person Miro, let me tell you it really really hits. Like, you know they MEAN IT
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Jess Liotta 🍄 @jessliotta.bsky.social · 11/09/2026
Along with the shrimplets and lovely mystery snail Nyx, the UCMKA local 57 welcomes the final comrade type in the downstairs aquarium, three African dwarf aquatic frogs. Presenting: Frodo, Sam, and Sméagol
Frodo, a greyish african dwarf frog with a hangdog kind of expression, chilling on some mossSamwise, a stouter, larger aquatic frog with brownish coloration and clearer spots than Frodo, looking determined but a little shell shockedSméagol, a weird little white leucistic aquatic African dwarf frog, looking absolutely out of their depth
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Jess Liotta 🍄 @jessliotta.bsky.social · 11/09/2026
THE SHRIMP UNION IS EXPANDING BECAUSE WE HAVE SHRIMPLETS!!
A tiny tiny shrimplet on bright green mossA tiny shrimplet on a leaf with an adult in the background d A zoomed out view with an adult and a tiny barely visible baby on the moss
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Jess Liotta 🍄 @jessliotta.bsky.social · 10/09/2026
NYT Cooking has been pushing a guava cake all week but the comments weren’t reassuring. So I made my own damn guava cake, heavily influenced by the stunning Stella Parks double strawberry cake recipe. And a quick couple strawberry gelatin circles for the middle and top. Wow!!
A beautiful pale pink 6” guava cake with guava gel on top and a soft piped whipped cream / cream cheese frosting Cut open slice of guava cake showing a moderately open and tender crumb
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Jess Liotta 🍄 @jessliotta.bsky.social · 08/09/2026
Okay I know my aquarium problem has reached a new height because I just committed to a co2 enriched tank setup for the one I’m making in Kai’s room (and upgrading to one for Miro’s) lolololol god help me
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B. Kirisaki @kirisaki.moe.observer · 08/09/2026
UCMKA STRONG! (United Crustaceans of the Mushroom Kingdom Aquariums)
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Jess Liotta 🍄 @jessliotta.bsky.social · 08/09/2026
Happy Labor Day from UCMKA Local 57, who remind you that your boss can’t prevent you from talking about your wages to colleagues, and non-competes are partially or fully unenforceable in many states (and mostly unethical everywhere) 😌🦐
Several cherry red neocaridina union member shrimp enjoying a celebratory shrimp snack stick for the holidayTwo neocaridina cherry red shrimp busily disassembling a shrimp food pellet in the aquarium moss
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Jess Liotta 🍄 @jessliotta.bsky.social · 07/09/2026
Years ago I set new events to default to my personal google calendar. I've meant to change it back to the family calendar for ages (I have a hojillion Kai climbing events to add) and finally went to do it. Apparently google has eliminated that capability :) :) :) i am going to set something on fire
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Jess Liotta 🍄 @jessliotta.bsky.social · 07/09/2026
I am making this post entirely to brag about how fucking P E R F E C T these biscuits are. Tender, golden brown exterior crunch, fluffy, and layers like a goddamn doorstopper fantasy novel. I am a biscuit wizard
A cooling rack with parchment paper on it and mine perfect flaky buttermilk biscuits A plabowl with corn/pepper/tomato maque choux, blackened shrimp, and one of those perfect biscuitsBiscuit post splitting with butter melted into the middle on Miro’s bowl of dinner
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Jess Liotta 🍄 @jessliotta.bsky.social · 06/09/2026
We have this like 14” x 14” white board up over our kitchen table, and Miro’s weekly compositions are, uh… quite something
A whiteboard drawing with many mysterious entities and creatures, including: A mountain that used to be a giant crying waterfalls out out of cave eyes, a large flying beholder looking at the mountain giant, a massive floating nautilus looking down at a tiny ship-island(?) with tiny people on it, a gigantic city sized fossa with blue and red stripes, some underwater creatures I cannot identify, a beholder-esque sea creature looking at a school of fish, a small underwater city.
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Jess Liotta 🍄 @jessliotta.bsky.social · 05/09/2026
Omfg an artist on Instagram included Caper in her sleeping dogs project and she’s gonna mail it to me, wowowo. Look at himmm! 😍😍😍 (Her account is @jamieclarkart)
A highly detailed watercolor of Caper the silken windhounds curled into a half circle with legs all dangling
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Jess Liotta 🍄 @jessliotta.bsky.social · 02/09/2026
First day of 11th and 8th grade 🥲
Kai and Miro, a couple of vaguely teenage looking nerds, stand on a slightly cluttered porch in jeans and hoodies (Miro’s is
Leopard print) smiling for the camera Kai and Miro hug and smile for the camera
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David Frew @drvon2.bsky.social · 02/09/2026
Facts like this are the main reason people should be on BlueSky
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mcc @dryad.technology · 01/09/2026
This is the single biggest physics discovery of my entire lifetime. Or something's wrong with one of the cables. One of the two
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Anathema 🏳️‍🌈🏴‍☠️ @anathemaweatherwax.bsky.social · 30/08/2026
www.fauna-flora.org/news/celebra...
fauna-flora.org
Celebrating Kazakhstan’s first wild-born Przewalski’s horse in 200 years
A Przewalski’s horse foal has been born in Central Kazakhstan for the first time in 200 years- a big step on the road to population recovery.
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Jess Liotta 🍄 @jessliotta.bsky.social · 31/08/2026
I didn’t win (because I reached a bit too far with my presentation and decoration lolol), but I received zero (0) critiques or notes from the judges on my flavor or actual component taste. TBH everything taste and bake wise came out PERFECT and I’m absolutely not mad about it! God that was so fun
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Jess Liotta 🍄 @jessliotta.bsky.social · 30/08/2026
FIRST IN THE TECHNICAL, back tomorrow for the showstopper, and my fellow bakers are so nice and so fucking talented 🤩
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Jess Liotta 🍄 @jessliotta.bsky.social · 29/08/2026
My molds BETRAYED ME & had sticking issues but the actual composition (and the ones that came out with no issues) was perfect so I’m not mad about it! I couldn’t get a pic in the tent but they looked like this: Cannolo candy bars with sheep milk crema and crunchy shell, pistachio, orange peel.
Practice cannoli bars (I went with the smooth tube mold today)
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Jess Liotta 🍄 @jessliotta.bsky.social · 29/08/2026
AAAHHHHH
Jess in her big Portland bake show apron in THE TENTThe view from my tableThe group!!
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Jess Liotta 🍄 @jessliotta.bsky.social · 29/08/2026
I can neither confirm nor deny that one of the things I’m making this weekend might be referenced in my nails right now
Jess’s fingernails with little berries and brown mushrooms
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