Mushrooms are packed with antioxidants and a major source of protein, fibre, vitamins B and C, and they taste delicious! On the Mornington Peninsula there are people with a passion for mushrooms in all sorts of ways: foraging, cooking, eating. You can even try a mushroom cappuccino! There are some 10,000 species of fungi in Australia (not all of them are edible), so for those wanting to get close to the source we suggest joining some experienced mushroom hunters. Don your gumboots and enjoy a guided ramble. You’ll be surprised at how much you learn along the way.

For a four hour experience that will leave you with no questions unanswered join a ‘May Mushroom Meander’ with award-winning chef Max Paganoni of Max’s Restaurant. Enjoy a forage through the local area as you celebrate the mysterious mushroom and find out about the best way to cook with the different varieties. Following the forage, guests head inside to warm up and enjoy a 2 course a la carte lunch accompanied with a glass of Red Hill Estate wine.

Also happening throughout May - T’Gallant Winery host wild mushroom meanders which take you on a tour in the field to forage, followed by a grazing lunch featuring our funghi friends and topping it off with the aforementioned ‘mushroom cappuccino’. To complete the experience, you’ll also get the chance to sample some of their excellent wines including the Cape Schanck Pinot Noir in a private tasting while Head Chef Marco Vanuzzo hosts a cooking demonstration.

A day out with MP Experience Tours can give you the thrill of not only learning about edible mushrooms and how to grow them but also of going on a Truffle hunt! Their ‘Focus on Funghi at Red Hill Truffle’ experience will have you spending equal time on truffles and mushrooms as you join Jenny McAuley and her specially trained truffle hunting dog Thomas on a hunt around the oak and hazelnut trees. Finish the day off with a truffle and mushroom-inspired lunch prepared by a French Michelin chef and wine from Elgee Park.

If this has left you drooling and you need some cooking inspo, take a look at some recipes from our local restaurants HERE>>

Find more inspiration for this autumn HERE>>

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