The Mushroom Medley | An Interview + Recipe with Chris Najmola

From the Kitchen of… Fuse Aiken: The Mushroom Medley – An Interview + Recipe with Chris Najmola

You will need:

  • 8 oz. assorted mushrooms — we recommend using
    Circular Farms to keep it local
  • 2 oz. heavy whipping cream
  • 2 oz. high quality soy sauce
  • 1 oz. vegetable oil
  • a bottle of your favorite red wine
  • a sauté pan
  • some crusty bread to sop up the sauce, or a steak to top — honestly, everyone tells us you could put it over anything

This is how we do it (like the song):

Start off by getting your sauté pan nice and hot. I think it’s important that nothing hits a pan, not even oil, until the pan is hot — we’re talking about 7 out of 10 on the dial.

Once your pan is hot, add the oil, followed immediately by your mushrooms. As they brown, open your bottle of wine.

When you find that the mushrooms have been caramelized enough, it’s time to deglaze the pan. I usually find that I use the amount of wine from the top of the bottle down to the label. Or a glass. And here’s the fun part — now you get to drink the rest of the wine! And it will pair perfectly with your dish since it’s the actual wine you used.

Now add the cream and the soy sauce, and allow it to reduce until it’s a nice thick caramel color. It should be thick enough to stand up on a plate.

Last but not least, grab that crusty bread and begin to enjoy. Or put it over a steak, or chicken, or anything else you can think of.

One more little secret from our kitchen to yours — hope you enjoy!


The Mushroom Medley | An Interview + Recipe with Chris Najmola | Palmetto Bella

How did this recipe begin?

This recipe has been a staple at Fuse since our first location in Augusta. It was created by the original chef/owner Eric Draper, but it is extremely similar to what I used to make for my wife back when I really started learning how to cook. We called it wine dinner. I would take some mushrooms, a bottle of red wine, a little cream, and a little soy sauce, and make a beautiful sauce that we would use to top the steak portion of our dinner. It melted my wife’s heart and has intoxicated many of our guests at the restaurant ever since.

Picture of Palmetto Bella Staff

Palmetto Bella Staff

Staff writer for Palmetto Bella Magazine
Picture of Palmetto Bella Staff

Palmetto Bella Staff

Staff writer for Palmetto Bella Magazine

In the know

Related Stories

Celebrate with a Piece of Cake | Palmetto Bella

Celebrate with a Piece of Cake

Everyone knows that 2020 has not been a piece of cake, but perhaps one thing that could help us all in this difficult time IS a delicious piece of cake. As the holidays quickly grow near, it’s time to gather with loved ones and bring some cheer. Think about those memorable dishes and traditional recipes you made with your mother, father, sibling, or grandparent. What great moments to remember while creating something that brings comfort and happiness on a particular day! After a bit of turkey, dressings, ham, salad, or green bean casserole, let’s take a stroll to the dessert table. Just a piece of cake can make any celebration

Read More »
Just As I Am | Palmetto Bella

Just As I Am

“What am I here for and what’s my purpose?” It’s a question we have all asked ourselves. We feel like we have an idea of our direction until, suddenly, a detour, a distraction, a new path grabs our attention. As a musician and songwriter, I know this cycle all too well. An original song might be in the works and a vibe going until all of a sudden a new chord or a new word piques my interest and changes everything. I like to diversify my music; however, I have learned one of the best ways for musicians to stay on a solid yet expanding track is by knowing their

Read More »
Buying Your First New Car | Palmetto Bella

Buying Your First New Car

So I got a new car! Yay! It was much harder than I expected. There were many things I didn’t know I would have to know. So I figured that I would give some advice on the things that I didn’t know so that anyone who is thinking about buying his or her first car could get some insight. The Dealership Finding the place to buy the car was a lot harder than I originally expected. I was pretty much under the impression that I could go to a dealership and they would have exactly what I wanted in the exact color and with all the features I wanted. Wrong!

Read More »
Turkey on Zoom? | Palmetto Bella

Turkey on Zoom?

No, this does not mean chasing a fast turkey, Uncle Billie-Bob… I don’t think it is worth my time to address all the cons for having to practice social distancing for your holiday traditions. For functional families, it may be very difficult to be distanced from loved ones. However, for those of us who have the courage to admit that our families are dysfunctional, our gatherings may be the best ever. First of all, within both words there is a little secret 3-letter word embedded — FUN. So why not create a new kind of fun or family tradition? Let’s examine the wisdom and actual quotes from the Centers for

Read More »