Ocean City Sea Scallops with Morel Mushrooms. Photo by Andrew Chriss.

Dish of the Week: Ocean City Sea Scallops with Morel Mushrooms
Where:1789 Restaurant

Morel season is here! The Great Morel trumpets the mushroom’s seasonal arrival: “The morel’s winter hiatus has officially come to a close and the Great Morel has once again made its grand appearance. We’ve all waited in patience for this glorious rite of spring, which brings us the Great Morel and for some it is now upon us.” Similar to the way that pigs are used to hunt truffles, morels are not cultivated so much as hunted. You can track reported sightings and hunt your own morels in the area, if you so desire. Beware false morels, though, which can be poisonous if not prepared properly.

As part of his seasonal menu update, 1789 Restaurant Executive Chef Daniel Giusti pairs Oregon morel mushrooms with seared sea scallops from off the coast of Ocean City, Maryland. The dish is finished off with some asparagus and topped with a frothed foie gras jus. The sweet nuttiness of the morels matches the scallop, with neither flavor overpowering the other. The crisp asparagus adds texture to the buttery morels and scallops, while the jus accentuates the richness of the dish. So even if you can’t put together a hunting expedition to find your own morels, seek them out at restaurants that have already done the work for you.