2 tablespoons olive oil
24 Oakwood shiitake mushrooms, trimmed (any shiitakes may be substituted)
4 cloves garlic, lightly crushed
2 sprigs thyme
3 cups chicken stock
Salt and freshly ground white pepper
4 teaspoons butter
1 stalk celery, finely chopped
2 shallots, finely diced
24 frozen chestnuts (available at Grace's Marketplace)
1/2 onion, finely diced
1 and a 1/2-inch piece ginger, smashed
1 stalk lemongrass, lightly smashed
4 Fuji apples, cut into 1/4-inch dice
1/4 cup rice vinegar
1/4 cup elderflower syrup (available at Myers of Keswick, 634 Hudson Street; 2 tablespoons honey can be substituted)
Garnish: 24 sprigs chervil