Meat-eatin’ funghi

Bad news for the vegetarians out there: Oyster mushrooms are actually carnivorous. They eat small worms called nematodes and some bacteria, as well. If you don’t mind, they’re delicious. Named for their resemblance to the shellfish, oyster mushrooms have a delicate flavor and smell a bit like anise. They’re great in stir-fries and soups, and you’d never know they aren’t mollusks when you taste them in the mushroom po’ boy at Mother (1023 K Street). They’re magic mushrooms, too, producing natural statins to help reduce blood cholesterol. Be sure to rinse them well, though, to get rid of any ghalf-eaten prey!