An explorer on a quest for a vegan lifestyle
Jules is a ’70s child, born in London. Her fascination with medicinal plants and mushrooms started while studying Chinese Language at Leeds University.
As you can imagine, her studies took her into amazing spaces of self-discovery, and she has lived and travelled all over the world in pursuit of this journey.
For three years, she lived in China, learning how to grow shiitake mushrooms and, eventually, she found herself moving to Wilderness in the Western Cape, one of the best places in the world to grow this special fungi. She currently lives in Kommetjie in Cape Town where she runs her vegan, sustainable and eco-friendly food company.
Her understanding of both western and eastern thinking has led to a curious fusion in the food she creates.
Accolades
2007
Great Taste Award:
Best New Condiment in South Africa
2009
Good Food and Wine Show Award
2012
Eat In Award
2014
Good Food and Wine:
Best New Concept Award (mushroom boxes)
Food with a story
The first products in her range were conceived at the Wild Oats Farmers Market in Sedgefield. Here, Jules was approached by a woman whose son had Leukemia. The mother had heard about the benefits of shiitake and wanted to know if Jules could create something for her son using these medicinal mushrooms.
Thus, the first shiitake pesto was created and, soon, it grew into the artisan range of products available today.
A vital part of the Real Food story has been food markets and food shows. The Sunday Times Food Show was the first of many. Others included Good Food and Wine, Taste Festival and the Oranjezicht Farmers Market.
