The king

Todd Spanier

The founder and owner of King of Mushrooms, one of California's most respected wild and specialty mushroom companies. A pioneer in the sustainable and wild food movement, Todd has spent decades building deep relationships with chefs, foragers, farmers, importers, and culinary professionals throughout the San Francisco Bay Area and beyond. Todd's journey into mushrooms began at the age of five while hiking throughout California with his grandfather, Ed Marcellini. During those early years, he learned not only how to identify wild mushrooms, but also the importance of habitat, lunar cycles, seasonal weather patterns, and sustainable harvesting practices. Those experiences became the foundation for what would later evolve into King of Mushrooms.

where iT Started

In 1986, Todd and his mother, Jan Marcellini Spanier, began supplying mushrooms and wild foods to local restaurants from their family home in Burlingame, California. Their very first customer was Tooraj of Ecco Restaurant. What began as a small family operation quickly grew into a trusted culinary resource built on integrity, product knowledge, and personal relationships. In 1991, Todd traveled to Italy and reconnected with his family roots near Borgo Taro and the Ligurian mountains surrounding Rio and Sesta Godano - regions internationally recognized for porcini mushrooms and truffle culture. That experience further deepened his passion for wild foods and strengthened the European connections that continue to influence King of Mushrooms today.

career

In 1996, Todd formally founded King of Mushrooms, specializing in wild and cultivated mushrooms, fresh European truffles, seasonal foraged products, and specialty culinary ingredients. Over the years, the company has become an essential supplier for hundreds of restaurants, luxury hospitality groups, corporate dining programs, and culinary institutions throughout California. King of Mushrooms has helped foster a community centered around sustainable harvesting, responsible sourcing, and culinary excellence. The company is widely known for sourcing exceptional seasonal products including porcini, morels, matsutake, chanterelles, black trumpet mushrooms, wild greens, edible flowers, and fresh truffles from Italy and across Europe. Todd is also a passionate advocate for food safety and education surrounding wild mushrooms. He has spent years educating chefs, culinary teams, and mushroom enthusiasts on proper identification, handling, and sustainability practices. He is a lifetime member of the San Francisco Mycological Society and the Fungus Federation of Santa Cruz and has participated in mushroom festivals, truffle events, culinary demonstrations, lectures, and guided forays throughout California.
Today, King of Mushrooms continues to represent a unique bridge between old-world foraging traditions and modern culinary innovation. With nearly four decades dedicated to the mushroom industry, Todd Spanier remains one of the most recognized and respected figures in the world of wild and specialty foods.Legacy & RecognitionTodd Spanier is widely recognized within the food industry as a pioneer of California's sustainable and wild food movement. Through King of Mushrooms, he has spent decades supporting local chefs, restaurants, and food communities by providing responsibly sourced wild foods and rare culinary ingredients. His work has helped shape the appreciation and demand for wild mushrooms and truffles within the American culinary landscape.