Look what we founds for you, from the Hotel & Restaurant Newsletter!

May 8th, 2013 by Andrew Moth

Want to know a Boletus edulis from a pine ring and discover the secret world of wild mushrooms?

While many fungi fans keep their hunting spots secret, Delheim Wine Estate near Stellenbosch will lift the lid with its Mushroom Week which kicks off with two foraging expeditions in its own forest on 17 and 18 June.

Aficionados can join the Sperling family for a trudge through the forest in search of these rare seasonal delicacies under the guidance of Nora Sperling-Thiel and Gary Goldman aka “The Mushroom Hunter”.

Sperling-Thiel says: “Over the years mushroom hunting has become something of a family passion. It is all about the mystique and excitement of the season, the timing, the search, and then the ultimate satisfaction: to create a delicious meal from something you have foraged yourself.

“As a winemaking family we love to live close to nature and mushrooms are packed with good things like potassium, vitamin D and anti-oxidants” says Sperling-Thiel, daughter of farm owner Spatz Sperling, Cape wine pioneer and co-founder of the Stellenbosch Wine Route more than 40 years ago.

After working up an appetite in the forest, foragers will head to Delheim’s vat cellar for a buffet-style lunch featuring wild and exotic mushroom dishes.

There are only a few spots available for the Delheim Wild Mushroom Forage (on 17 & 18 June) and tickets cost R250 per person, which include a short-course in mushroom identification – a very important precursor to avoid poisoning and learn the dangers and don’ts when it comes to picking these edible wonders – prior to the forest forage.

The hunt starts at 10.30 and pre-bookings for this exCEPtional experience are essential. For more information or to book, contact Delheim at Tel. 021 888 4607; send an email to restaurant@delheim.com, or visit www.delheim.com

Delheim is believed to be first wine estate in the country to serve food almost four decades ago and today its Garden Restaurant remains popular. Those who miss out on the mushroom foraging experience can enjoy wild mushroom dishes at the restaurant throughout Delheim’s Mushroom Week which runs from 17 until 23 June