Have you ever walked past a wild mushroom on a damp woodland path and thought two things 1. That is bloody awesome, and 2. I wonder if I can eat it?
Telling the difference between a potentially divine dish and date with your toilet, or worse…
The oak and pine forests of Montseny are essentially a high-end woodland buffet, packed with culinary superstars like juicy rovellons, nutty ceps, and tiny, flavorful camagrocs. But before you start tossing random forest finds into your frying pan, a quick reality check: nature’s menu has a strictly zero-tolerance policy for guesswork.
Some mushrooms are delicious, some will make you see double, and others will straight-up ruin your week, or your internal organs. Here’s a quick guide to what you definitely don't want on your plate:
- Death Cap (Amanita phalloides): Deceptively innocent-looking, but easily the most lethal villain in Montseny. Eat this by mistake, and its toxins will quietly dismantle your liver and kidneys over the next day or two. Definitely not the cute local experience you signed up for.
- Fly Agaric (Amanita muscaria): The iconic Mario mushroom with the bright red cap and white spots. It might look like a fairy tale house, but unless you fancy severe stomach cramps, total confusion, and a bizarrely unpleasant trip, leave it for the goblins.
- Poisonous Knight (Fredolic bord): The ultimate sneaky evil twin. It looks almost identical to the prized edible fredolic, but if you cook the wrong one, you’ll spend the next 24 hours locked in an intense, violent relationship with your toilet.
Mushroom foraging is serious business in Catalonia
Mushroom foraging, known locally as caçar bolets, is far more than a weekend hobby. It is a deeply cherished seasonal ritual and a centuries-old cultural tradition. Every autumn, after the first heavy rainfalls, thousands of locals (boletaires) take to the hills with woven wicker baskets slung over their arms. If you’ve ever spotted them quietly vanishing into the trees, following secret trails passed down through generations, you’ve probably wondered how to step into that world yourself.
Let us take you on an incredible journey into the world of mushrooms
When venturing into the kingdom of fungi, you want to be guided by an expert. Made My Dia has partnered with Natural Walks to host a day of guided woodland walking, sustainable foraging, and hands-on botanical illustration.
Guided by a Master Gastro-Botanist
Your guide for the day is Evarist March, founder of Natural Walks, a renowned biologist, and gastro-botanist who serves as the official foraging consultant for world-leading establishments, including the 3-Michelin-starred El Celler de Can Roca. Evarist spends his life training guides on eco-guiding standards and nature interpretation; with over 15 years of field experience in Catalonia, you are in the best hands imaginable.
Not only will you learn how to forage for Mushrooms but with Made My Dia, you’ll also have a chance to try some outdoor Plein Air painting and drawing with Joanna, a creative graduate from Central Saint Martins and founder of Made My Dia. And so even when the mushrooms are eaten, you have a hand made memory of the day. We’ll also share a light picnic including nuts, cheese and juice.
What to expect, and how to get to your forest escape
- We meet in Cardedeu, perfectly situated at the doorstep of the Parc Natural del Montseny and Montnegre—two of Catalonia's premier foraging regions.
- Safe & Sustainable Foraging: Learn how to identify edible species, recognise toxic lookalikes, and harvest responsibly so the underground mycelium thrives for seasons to come.
- A Lasting Artistic Memory: Before heading back, we’ll transition into a relaxed botanical drawing session. Guided step-by-step, you’ll capture the fine gills, textures, and forms of your finds on paper, giving you a unique, handmade artwork to take home long after your edible treasures have been enjoyed at the dinner table.
How to get there
Take the R2 train from Clot, Passeig de Gracia, or Sants, and in around 35-40 minutes you’ll arrive in Cardedeu. You can also drive 30 minutes from central Barcelona with easy parking on arrival. We’re also near Granollers and Saint Celoni, if you’re coming from the other direction.
From there, the walk will be 1.5 hours, we’ll stop in the middle for drawing and botanical sketching + a light picnic, and then loop back towards the station for our 1.5 hour return walk.
Book today to activate your discount.
Find the event on our Luma page 15 November 10am-2.30pm
Use your exclusive discount: FORAGE for 15% off.
For more information reach out to hello@mademydia.com or follow on instagram @mademydia.cat
If you’re a group and looking for a private booking (min 8 people) drop us a message.
Full refund or new date offer if it’s raining, you chose!
