Poplar mushroom and bean curd salad at the Holiday Inn Beijing Focus Square. [Photo/chinadaily.com.cn]

Chef Wang recommends choosing poplar mushrooms with smooth crowns that's 9 to 12cm in diameter and clean stalks free of hairs and spots. To prepare the mushroom, cut the ends and blanch in boiling water. There are also dried varieties but Chef Wang recommends using fresh poplar mushrooms.