Fools Gold: Humans' Innate Desire for the Golden and Rare
Thomas Hoy
9/10/2023
9/10/2023
Chanterelles, summers’ gilded fungi. These mushrooms grow in mycorrhizal symbiosis with hardwoods, flourishing after heavy rains during humid summer highs. These fungi often form large patches, carpeting the forest floor in a duvet of gold. Their gustatory appeal is evidenced by their ambrosial, musky-apricot scent, and their taste is a blend of peppery, earthy nuances with a hint of sweetness. Coveted by chefs, these mushrooms can only be sourced from nature by foragers. Frequently making appearances on fine-dining menus — Chanterelle Maltagliati, Chanterelle risotto, Fricassee of Chanterelle and Chanterelle toast, to name a few. But what draws us to these mushrooms? Is it their exquisite flavor, or the golden allure of the chanterelle that taps into humanity’s innate desire for the shiny, golden, and rare? The consumption of chanterelles provides a dynamic image. One that is exemplory of humans’ innate desire for gold.
This golden allure isn't confined to the culinary world. Throghout history, humans have been drawn to objects that gleam and shine. Actually humans' likeness for things shiny goes further back than you may think. According to Vox, our obsession with all that sparkles dates back as early as 40,000 BCE during the Upper Paleolithic era. Back then, early humans known as Cro-Magnons carved flint tools out of polished, colorful stones creating a sheen so incredible it was still visible when dug up by archeologists many centuries later. These prehistoric humans also used mica and pyrite to accent cave paintings with that desired shimmer.
![Cro-Magnon cave paintings at Lascaux]()
Tales of gold and its allure pervade mythology and history. While each story is anchored in its unique origins they all emphasize the allure of this mineral and the prosperity it promises. Take for instance El Dorado, the lost city of gold. The legend of El Dorado, often depicted as a city or a kingdom laden with gold, has its origins not in mere tales, but in ritualistic ceremonies of the Muisca people, who lived in what is now modern-day Colombia. According to Juan Rodriguez Freyeles 1536 book The Conquest and Discovery of the new Kingdom of Granada. When a leader died, his successor was called El Dorado, the ‘gilded one’. The gilded one was stripped naked and covered with mud and powdered gold. His first journey thereafter would be to the ceremonial lake of Guatavita. Surrounded by four priests adorned with feathers, gold crowns and body ornaments, the leader, naked but for a covering of gold dust, would set out to make an offering of gold objects, emeralds and other precious gifts to the gods by throwing them into the middle of the lake. Finally, the chief would dive into the lake at sunrise emerging a human ruler born from divine golden morning sun.
![Muisca raft in the Gold Museum, Bogotá, Colombia. This raft made of gold was found in Pasca, Cundinamarca, in 1969.]()
For the Muisca gold held spiritual value not monetary wealth. It wasn’t until the european conquistadors came to south america when this tale became twisted with greed and obsessions. During the 16th and 17th centuries, Europeans, still fascinated by the New World, believed that a hidden city of immense wealth existed. Numerous expeditions were mounted to search for this treasure, all of which ended in failure and exploitation of indigenous people. The colonizers even attempted to drain Lake Guatavita several times. What was found was only a small amount of gold from the ceremonies. No gold laden city, no promise of riches, only ceremonial artifacts from the Muisca people.
Both narratives center around the allure of gold, a substance that transcended its material value to become a symbol of desire, aspiration, and, at times, obsession. For the Muisca, gold represented spiritual wealth and a connection to the divine, while for the conquistadors, it signified immense material wealth and power. These stories remind us that humanity's pursuit of the golden and the rare often unfolds within the complex interplay of culture, spirituality, and the unquenchable thirst for the extraordinary. It is a timeless reflection of our collective fascination with the glimmer of the unknown, whether it be in the depths of a mystical lake or foraging in the woods for chanterelles.
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To answer the initial question, what draws us to these mushrooms? Is it the delicious flavor that led us to enjoying these mushrooms? Or is it the golden allure of the chanterelle? I believe the answer is both. There is no doubt that Chanterelles taste delicious. There is also no doubt that Chanterelles hold a mystique and glamor that will awe diners at the rarity of enjoying them. Perhaps it's worth exploring whether there is a more Darwinian explanation for our fascination with golden objects. Could there be a hidden evolutionary advantage to identifying golden foods? Are they more nutritious or medicinal? For the time being as proven through history our human brains have undergone centuries of conditioning to desire the shiny, the gold, and the rare either for divine spiritual offerings, monetary wealth, or enjoyed best in a bowl of pasta.
This golden allure isn't confined to the culinary world. Throghout history, humans have been drawn to objects that gleam and shine. Actually humans' likeness for things shiny goes further back than you may think. According to Vox, our obsession with all that sparkles dates back as early as 40,000 BCE during the Upper Paleolithic era. Back then, early humans known as Cro-Magnons carved flint tools out of polished, colorful stones creating a sheen so incredible it was still visible when dug up by archeologists many centuries later. These prehistoric humans also used mica and pyrite to accent cave paintings with that desired shimmer.
Tales of gold and its allure pervade mythology and history. While each story is anchored in its unique origins they all emphasize the allure of this mineral and the prosperity it promises. Take for instance El Dorado, the lost city of gold. The legend of El Dorado, often depicted as a city or a kingdom laden with gold, has its origins not in mere tales, but in ritualistic ceremonies of the Muisca people, who lived in what is now modern-day Colombia. According to Juan Rodriguez Freyeles 1536 book The Conquest and Discovery of the new Kingdom of Granada. When a leader died, his successor was called El Dorado, the ‘gilded one’. The gilded one was stripped naked and covered with mud and powdered gold. His first journey thereafter would be to the ceremonial lake of Guatavita. Surrounded by four priests adorned with feathers, gold crowns and body ornaments, the leader, naked but for a covering of gold dust, would set out to make an offering of gold objects, emeralds and other precious gifts to the gods by throwing them into the middle of the lake. Finally, the chief would dive into the lake at sunrise emerging a human ruler born from divine golden morning sun.
For the Muisca gold held spiritual value not monetary wealth. It wasn’t until the european conquistadors came to south america when this tale became twisted with greed and obsessions. During the 16th and 17th centuries, Europeans, still fascinated by the New World, believed that a hidden city of immense wealth existed. Numerous expeditions were mounted to search for this treasure, all of which ended in failure and exploitation of indigenous people. The colonizers even attempted to drain Lake Guatavita several times. What was found was only a small amount of gold from the ceremonies. No gold laden city, no promise of riches, only ceremonial artifacts from the Muisca people.
Both narratives center around the allure of gold, a substance that transcended its material value to become a symbol of desire, aspiration, and, at times, obsession. For the Muisca, gold represented spiritual wealth and a connection to the divine, while for the conquistadors, it signified immense material wealth and power. These stories remind us that humanity's pursuit of the golden and the rare often unfolds within the complex interplay of culture, spirituality, and the unquenchable thirst for the extraordinary. It is a timeless reflection of our collective fascination with the glimmer of the unknown, whether it be in the depths of a mystical lake or foraging in the woods for chanterelles.
To answer the initial question, what draws us to these mushrooms? Is it the delicious flavor that led us to enjoying these mushrooms? Or is it the golden allure of the chanterelle? I believe the answer is both. There is no doubt that Chanterelles taste delicious. There is also no doubt that Chanterelles hold a mystique and glamor that will awe diners at the rarity of enjoying them. Perhaps it's worth exploring whether there is a more Darwinian explanation for our fascination with golden objects. Could there be a hidden evolutionary advantage to identifying golden foods? Are they more nutritious or medicinal? For the time being as proven through history our human brains have undergone centuries of conditioning to desire the shiny, the gold, and the rare either for divine spiritual offerings, monetary wealth, or enjoyed best in a bowl of pasta.
Sungold Chanterelle Maltagliati Recipe:
Ingredients:
- Chanterelles
-
Sungolds
- Maltagliati Pasta
- Marigold
- Piennolo Secchi (~Sun dried tomatos)
- Magic?
- Roast sungolds 425 for 15 minutes
- Pureé with piennolo secchi
- Cook pasta just until al dente
- In pan sauté chanterelles, adding sungold puree once tender
- Add Magic to pasta
- Add pasta to pan and give it a toss
- Garnish with marigold flower