A 46-year-old woman died last Sunday morning at her home in Valencia. The day before he had been eating at the prestigious riff restaurant -con Michelin star and two Repsol suns- with his family. According to sources in the investigation, the three diners took a rice menu with mushrooms.
That would have caused a possible food toxinfection, as husband and son also suffered discomfort, although they recovered. Instead, the deceased woman could not get over the bad moment after having been constantly vomiting, as indicated by the same sources.
Therefore, the Ministry of Health of the Valencian Community opened an investigation that is still ongoing. The objective is to clarify what happened with that dish that also caused health problems to seven other clients of the restaurant
Rice with mushrooms known as 'morels'
The technicians of Health case managers have already sampled various foods from the Reef for the corresponding toxicological analysis. This, together with the results of the autopsy without knowing himself yet, he will respond to the unknown of death. Was a deadly mushroom rice? At the moment, it is known that the fungus included in the elaboration is known as 'morel'.
This mushroom has an appearance reminiscent of a bee hive, hence its name. If it is cooked poorly or eaten raw, it is very dangerous by its degree of toxicity. Hard to find on earth, the 'morel' is really listed and is used in dishes gourmets.
They are edible fungihowever, but they must pass a double detoxification process. First the drying of the mushroom and then its boiling. The results of the case will reveal if there was any type of failure in the preparation of that rice with mushrooms. At the moment, the Reef has decided to stay closed until everything clears up.
A restaurant of recognized prestige
The german chef Bernd H. Knöller is the owner of the restaurant Reef, open to the public since 1991. Located in the Eixample neighborhood, the place is of recognized prestige, as is its cook, who also transmitted his condolence to the family in a recent statement.
"Regardless of the reason that may have caused this situation, I want to express my deep regret for what happened"
Until more news of the case is known, “after the first inspections carried out it has been found that the restaurant complies with all sanitary regulations ». Therefore, we must wait for clarifying evidence regarding food and its culinary treatment.
