At the far end of Hoff Industrial Drive in O'Fallon, Missouri, where industrial buildings give way to forest, there's a hidden gem to be discovered. It's here that curious home cooks, chefs and others can find a rare treasure trove of products, most of them created by chef JT Gelineau, who has spent years experimenting with one endlessly fascinating ingredient: mushrooms. This is Mushrooms Naturally, St. Louis' one-stop shop for all things fungi – plus compost, organic potting soil, microgreens, herbs and a few other fungus-adjacent surprises.
Owner Gelineau has been in the industry for over a decade, sharpening his culinary skills at restaurants and country clubs all over St. Louis. His hobby for cultivating and foraging for mushrooms transformed into an all-out business, leading Gelineau to open the facility in O'Fallon to the public and sell his wares at the Lake St. Louis Farmers Market.
He shares these duties with lab manager Amanda Dwyer, whose background in clinical lab science and ever-evolving interest in mushrooms and fermentation led her to share her expertise at Mushrooms Naturally. The shop hosts tastings, tours, classes and the occasional dinner.
"We were one street over with a similar setup, but the storefront idea is new," Gelineau explains, gesturing to the rows of powdered and dried mushrooms behind a sales counter.
Read more at Feast Magazine