A firm favourite at their local farmers’ markets, the Stroud-based Slad Valley Mushrooms team are looking forward to a first-time appearance at this year’s foodie favourite, the Cowbridge Food and Drink Festival which will take place across the Spring Bank Holiday Weekend (May 26th-27th).
A ‘lockdown love affair’ of an idea that began when film industry worker Rafe Williams returned to his hometown in the Cotswolds during the pandemic, the company has gone from strength to strength and joined by life-long friend and now business partner Oscar Clutterbuck-Jones, both are looking forward to bringing their marvellous mushrooms to a whole new audience.
Speaking about the company’s beginnings, Oscar said:
“I’m a Cardiff boy originally and got to know Rafe through some fantastic family holidays caravanning in the Gower – I went off to university in Manchester and had finished my degree in geography, ready to look for the right job when Covid hit and everything changed for us all.
“Rafe was working in London in the film industry but as work dried up came home and looking for something new, started to experiment with growing gourmet mushrooms, literally in his garage on Slad Road.
“He asked me to come on board about six months later and in a matter of months, we were moving out of Rafe’s garage space into a huge warehouse in Gloucester, large enough for two full-time grow rooms; we now have four and it’s been an incredible journey so far.
“We’re regulars at our local farmers market in Stroud which is always great and others such as Riverside in Cardiff but Cowbridge will be our biggest festival to date and we’re really excited about it.”
At first selling just Grey Oyster Mushrooms, Slad Valley’s repertoire now includes Yellow Oysters, Lion’s Mane, Speckled Chestnuts and an array of other store cupboard products made using dried mushrooms.
Depending on the time of year, they can produce up to 200kilos a week, with the next venture planned to be an expansion into the world of medicinal mushrooms.
Passionate about educating people about the world of mushroom growing and how many delicious recipes can be created, Oscar and Rafe will be bringing lots of different mushroom types at various stages of their lifecycle to Cowbridge and focussing heavily on the hot food!
Oscar added:
“Mushrooms are so versatile and people often don’t realise – the lines between vegan, vegetarian and meat featured dishes are so blurred now in a great way with so many exciting recipes; there really is something for everyone to enjoy.
“Hot food was a sideline for us at first but it’s gone brilliantly and we can’t wait to showcase some of the things we’ve cooked up – deep fried mushroom bao buns, oyster mushroom burgers, lion’s mane bites and shredded oysters.
“The oyster mushrooms are a particular favourite of ours; so great in pastas, risottos and Asian cuisine.”
Alongside the hot food options, festival goers will be able to take away a grow kit to try at home or a punnet, knowing that all Slad Valley’s mushrooms are harvested literally on the day or the day before purchase.
“Sustainability is so important to us and our whole essence is about bringing a local, low-impact way of eating to the community; mushrooms grown with sawdust and other ingredients from local farms and all seasonal,” added Oscar.
“We know the Cowbridge Food and Drink Festival will put us on a platform with some fantastic regional artisan producers and we’re really looking forward to seeing everyone in May; we’re also hoping to secure a unit in Wales in the near future so definitely keeping it as local as possible!”
Festival manager Tracy James-Lieberman added:
“It’s so great to have the guys from Slad Valley Mushrooms with us this year – we love having something new to offer our festival goers and the recipes I’m hearing about sound absolutely amazing.
“It’s another fabulous addition to the festival line up – we’re working hard behind the scenes and 2024 is shaping up to be one not to miss this year!”
For further information see cowbridgefoodanddrink.org | sladvalleymushrooms.co.uk
