They're out there right now, lurking in the woods, just out of sight.
But an upcoming Fulton festival will bring morels into the daylight and plunge them directly into the fryer.
The fifth annual Morels and Microbrews Festival kicks off at 11 a.m. Saturday, with a beer and wine tasting from 1-5 p.m.
"We'll have close to 800 pounds of mushrooms this year," organizer and Beks co-owner Garry Vaught said. "We had a little under 200 pounds total last year."
Vaught said last year, morels ran out early - which shouldn't be the case this year.
"Some are coming from Portland, Oregon," he said. "I just drove to Kansas City and picked up another hundred pounds."
Morels will be sold fried and raw. Vaught also is planning to whip up a few gallons of cream of morel soup. At the end of the day, a morel auction will benefit the Brick District Association.
Each mushroom sold is examined by Vaught, a certified inspector, to make sure it isn't a potentially dangerous morel lookalike.
"I'll have to get re-certified at the end of this year," Vaught said.
For those who can't live on morels alone, the Fulton VFW Post 2657, MoJo's BBQ, Grill-a-Brothers, Verrel Martin and Gator Wagon will also provide food. Gator Wagon is a new food truck in the area, operated by Burford LaRue, and sells real alligator.
"Gator is kind of like a fishy chicken," Vaught said.
And of course, there's the other half of the festival's moniker. A total of 31 breweries, distilleries and wineries are bringing their wares for festival-goers to sample. Those who show up can buy a commemorative cup for the beer tasting.
"Beer's the best with morels or a white wine," Vaught opined. "I would choose more like a wheat beer."
He said morels have a nutty, earthy flavor.
Once good food and alcohol have lowered your inhibitions, you can dance to the live music provided by the Ravine Street Ramblers and the Kay Brothers.
"There will be a food court area near the Bistro, and the band will be right by the courthouse, with beer and morels in between," Vaught said.
For kids ages 8 and under, there is a mushroom hunt at 3 p.m. at the courthouse.
"Central Bank does this," Vaught said. "(The kids find) really cute little mushrooms that are worth different denominations of money and things."
Currently, the National Weather Service predicts showers for Saturday, but that won't stop the party.
"No matter what, if it rains, we're still rolling," Vaught said.
Besides, the rain is good for the mushrooms.
If you go
What: Morels and Microwbrews
When: Saturday, 11 a.m.-5 p.m.
Where: Brick District, Fulton
How much: Free admission, $20 for beer tasting