York - The Hairy Fig

I was so excited to find the Hairy Fig in York, that I cut off some of the entrance to the historic Merchant Adventurers' Hall in my picture above.  

This medieval guildhall:

and the Hairy Fig, are both on Fossgate, a street steeped in culinary heritage (see here for more details).

Anyway back to the Hairy Fig - it's a shop as intriguing as its name.

I don't think figs are hairy, but the owner had managed to find some cactus figs:

which I think are the fruit of the prickly pear - and apparently "natural colon cleaners"!

The business has expanded into two shops.  The first one I went into was packed with all manner of interesting foods, including some of the best local, French, Italian, Mexican or Spanish foods!

It's a great place to get items for canapés, here you can buy baby figs, stuffed with cream cheese, baby cornichons, sun dried tomatoes and olives.  

There's over 40 different cheeses, like Jamie Montgomery's cheddar, a variety of Swaledale and Wensleydale cheeses,including the Richard III Wensleydale cloth-bound cheese, made by Andrew Ridley.  Blue cheeses include Cropwell Bishop Stilton and Yorkshire blue from Shepherds Purse.

Rustic Italian style breads comes from Via Vecchia in the Shambles

Varieties include cheese and marmite, cinnamon and raisin (loaves or bagels), green olive and thyme, and Sicilian (ham olives cheese and herbs). Via Vecchia also supply local restaurants with bread.

The first shop became so popular that they had to expand, and in 2009 they moved into the shop next door as well.  Here you can bring your own bottle and fill it with an amazing choice of balsamic vinegars and olive oils.  If you haven't got a bottle, they got some nice ones if you're choosing a gift. I've never seen such a choice:    

There's also over 40 different teas, like Chinese tea balls, Japanese cherry, Oolong silver tips and Sencha Fukujyu green tea:

There's also an interesting selection of coffee beans.  

The chocolate here is also top quality, and different. Chocolates include Lauden fine chocolates, which I think are some of the best you'll find. 

At the back of the shop there's a small café, where you can where you can chill out and enjoy some of the food they sell, before exploring the Merchant Adventurers Hall at the back.  

It's no wonder that this lovely shop last year won an award for the Best Shopping Experience in York, and the Independent have included this shop in their list of the 50 best delicatessens in the UK.

The Hairy Fig
39 Fossgate
York
North Yorkshire
YO1 9TF

Tel: 01904 677074

Web: www.thehairyfig.co.uk