Olio & Farina

oogywawa

Welcome addition to York artisanal shopping 1st December 2008

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Olio & Farina have opened their 10th store in York and the portents are good.

The York shop is divided neatly into two distinct sections - eat in and take away. There is a spotless Italian cafe that serves effortlessly good Espresso and assorted other beverages and pastries and the shop complements this well.

There is a good selection of jars and bottles of own brand high quality spreads, pates, pastas, plus wines (including Primitivo - my current favourite and available at KoKo Bar) and fresh produce in a bijous fridge. You can taste the Olive Oils from lovely terracota dispensers before you buy.

My two personal favourites were their Black Olive and Sundried Tomato Pâté - wonderfully clean and fresh lacking that dreaded ingredient Sodium Chloride that so corrupts the taste. The other was their top of the range Olive Oil "Occhipinti Pantarei" which at £13.49 for 250ml seems a little steep. That is to most people who don't have an addiction to Manni Olive oil and import this most precious of gems from Tuscany (www.manni.biz).

Manni Olive Oil appeared in an article on 100 things to try before you die and I'd be hard pressed to disagree. It is quite sublime - as pure as fruit juice with a peppery aftertaste - this Über Extra Virgin Olive Oil comes from trees that are over 700 years old and shower their heritage onto the palate like little else.

That said, this little upstart from Sicily ran the magisterial Manni mighty close - there was a discernable difference but not as much as one would think for something a 5th of the price.

This Genoa based enterprise aims to bring the best and purest of Italian produce to the consumer and their business concept is based on the 3 revenue streams of Corporate Gifts, Internet Sales and the expanding Retail chain which includes franchises. York is a most welcome addition...