Every year the advent of autumn ushers us into the strange and wonderful season of "mushroom-hunting". The brisk air and chilly nights make for the perfect breeding ground for the best mushrooms you can eat. And it seems like everyone, whether a city dweller, suburban homeowner or farmer living in the plains of the region, heads up to the hills and forest in search of these highly-prized treats.
A true "
Boletaire", or mushroom-hunter, is usually out at the crack of dawn on the weekend, on the lookout for new growths, and especially the prized
Rovellons, a particularly delicious variety of milk-cap mushroom. But
there are at least 40 different varieties of mushrooms that grow in the fertile woods in the shadow of the Pyrenees mountains. So even if you don't find any
Rovellons, you can always find
Gírgoles (oyster mushrooms),
Camagrocs (yellow foot) and meadow mushrooms. And even in our modern age of plastic reusable bags, you will find that most people still use wicker baskets. The chances of finding the best mushrooms goes down with each passing hour, so make sure you get out early!
Naturally, not everyone who goes looking for mushrooms is a micologist. In fact, most of us aren't. So what's the problem? Well, the problem is in the
dozen or so varieties of poisonous mushrooms, some of which bear striking resemblance to the non-offensive and often delectable ones. How do we get around this problem? Well, firstly, it is
highly recommended that you use a guide, someone with years of experience who is willing to show you what you are looking for. Secondly, when it doubt, leave it alone. Some of these mushrooms are extremely toxic, best not to take the chance. And there's a third option. Many of the areas where you can search for mushrooms offer restaurants that will cook your day's haul for you, selecting from the mushrooms you bring in and offering you a hearty meal, carefully weeding out the dangerous ones before serving you with a traditional Catalan meal.
In sum, spending a day, or a weekend, searching for wild mushrooms is a great recommendation for someone who's just visiting, or staying for a short time, during the first half of the autumn months. Just remember to bring a guide, or make sure you talk to the restaurant ahead of time. And don't forget your picnic basket!
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