Gathering goodies when foraging for food

Foraging for food should be done outside, not at the back of the fridge, says Deirdre Reynolds

If it kills you, don’t eat it again: that’s Evan Doyle’s humorous rule of thumb for finding your own food. The Wilds Foods co-author is hosting a masterclass on how to rummage for everything from garlic to gooseberries in the hedgerows. Surveying the apprehensive faces of the first-time foragers gathered at BrookLodge however, he acknowledges many Irish people still suffer from Snow White syndrome - a Disney-rooted fear of dangerous fruit and vegetables.

“I think Irish people are really scared of this,” admits Evan, proprietor of eco-friendly hotel set in Macreddin Village in Wicklow. “We think mushrooms grow deep in the forest and the Wicked Witch is there offering you a poisoned apple, but this isn’t the way.