Shiitakes and Meat from the Pinctada Maxima Pearl Oyster

Pearl meat is the adductor muscle of the pearl oyster, Pinctada maxima, and while it is a highly regarded delicacy it is a by-product of pearl production. Only once the oyster is no longer used for producing pearls is it removed from the farms and sold for the meat and mother of pearl shell. Because only small quantities of pearl meat tend to be harvested annually it is an expensive commodity, selling in Australia in 2012 for at least $120 per kilogram fresh or for $400 per kilo drie