The cauliflower mushroom is a large, cream-coloured wild fungus of the genus Sparassis that grows as a dense, ruffled rosette of flattened, wavy lobes — looking less like a typical mushroom than a giant egg-noodle sponge or a head of cauliflower. Found at the base of conifers in autumn, it is mild, faintly sweet and nutty, with a pleasantly crunchy, noodle-like bite that holds up well in cooking.