Mushroom picking in Ardèche on weekends

Summer porcini mushrooms, chanterelles, chanterelles in tubes, Golmotes… Welcome to Northern Ardèche ! Around Lalouvesc in autumn it grows like champignons !

A quick drive to escape the big city? An hour's drive and a few turns later, you'll find yourself in the heart of the forest. Nothing to do with the enchanted forest? And yet! By delicately searching the undergrowth, you'll return with a basket full of dreams and flavors.

wild mushroom in northern ArdècheSeverine Moulin

Harvesting and respect, our advice

And yes, to be sure not to confuse the good and the bad, you have to recognize them. No need to make yourself sick, if in doubt, leave the fruit in place.

According to the law we have the right to collect in national forests, in other words belonging to the state. And for a family consumption of a maximum of 5 liters per person per day.

Preparing your mushrooms in the forest is a very good idea. Arm yourself with a brush knife. Remove any damaged parts or moss from the porcini mushrooms you don't want to eat. Leave all of this on the ground of our forests because it's essential for their good health. Just because we're ugly doesn't mean we don't have the right to grow. Mushrooms are like people: even poisonous ones aren't bad for everyone. It's best not to turn over mushrooms we don't eat. They make many other species living in the forest happy.

It's not because we're naughty that we don't have the right to push. Mushrooms are like people: even toxic ones aren't bad for everyone. It is better not to turn mushrooms that we do not eat. They are the delight of many other forest-dwelling species.

wild mushrooms

A sudden desire for picking or an omelette? Mushrooms are an excuse for walking as well as cooking. In the land of Ardèche Gastronomy, a stone’s throw from Marcon Houses, we never miss a nice outing in the forest. Whether we pick them or grow them, mushrooms are a real treat. Lalouvesc They even have their own circuit!

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Pick mushrooms 1 hour from Lyon in Ardèche©Séverine Moulin-OTValday
the mushroom farm saint pierre sur douxThe Mushroom Farm

Farmed mushrooms

Northern Ardèche is definitely a paradise for mushroom pickers! But you can't just become a mushroom picker. For those who prefer to eat rather than hunt, the Ardèche mushroom farm is for you!

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Local Recipe

Chantal Chifflet, president of the friends of Veyrines shares with us his recipe for Potato gratin with dried porcini mushrooms. Because after picking it's time to taste!

Ingredients (8 for people:

2 kg of potatoes – 120 grams of dried porcini mushrooms – 30 cl of crème fraîche – 30 cl of milk – 30 g of butter – 5 cloves of garlic – 50 grams of shallots – 1 pinch of nutmeg – salt and pepper

  • Place the porcini mushrooms in 1 liter of lukewarm water the day before or in the morning for the evening. When ready to use, drain and keep the water.
  • Peel the potatoes and cut them into slices.
  • Reduce the soaking water by half, add chopped garlic, cream, milk and nutmeg, salt and pepper and bring to the boil, stirring occasionally.
  • Turn off and leave to infuse for ¼ hour.
  • Meanwhile, brown the well-drained porcini mushrooms with the butter and chopped shallots.
  • Arrange the potatoes in a buttered gratin dish, alternating with the browned porcini mushrooms;
  • Pour the sauce over it through a strainer and place in a hot oven (220 degrees, 7) until the potatoes are cooked (about 45 minutes)
  • Then you can enjoy!
Xtendo for Pixabay
basilica of lalouvesc northern ardècheMatthew Fraysse

A day in Lalouvesc in the heart of the forest

The unmissable Basilica of Lalouvesc may not be a mushroom, but it is indeed the most beautiful secret nestled in the heart of our Ardèche forests. Extend your walk after picking mushrooms in the woods: contemplation is guaranteed in front of this superb 19th-century building.

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