Hairy Fig

isobellayork

what a fantastic find 24th April 2009

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what a fantastic find. Whilst normally going into delis and coming out very dissapointed this is an exception indeed. Amazing smell of a real food shop with everything you could wish for. I bought an assortment of 'on tap' balsamics and oils including a 100 year old balsamic of modena at a bargain price. I have never had so many quality cheese tasters with this much enthusiasm before.I found products here that I would not expect to find outside of Harrods food hall, or on the continent. The interior is a work of art, capturing the best of a true deli and needless to say I will be back again and again.

oogywawa

Excellent gastronomic aladdins cave 3rd January 2009

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I popped into Hairy Fig in search of artisan cheese just before Xmas and could hardly move for the massing crowd. To say Hairy Fig maximises the space in its diminutive surroundings is an understatement. Every spare inch is chocked full of foodie tranklements, locally sourced where possible.

The owner (the landlady of the nearby Blue Bell pub) mentioned that she had been up until 11pm the night before, restocking her ravaged shelves and from what I could see she would be doing exactly the same later on !

I left with a hearty chunk of 18 month old English Cheddar and a butchers Pork Pie happy that small specialist shops still have a place in a crowded retail sector dominated by the grocery market behemoths...

mazphd

Fine fodder 12th May 2008

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'Fine Fodder' as is written above the door of this newest and wee deli addition to York. And fine fodder it purveys too! Tucked away on Fossgate and what is fast becoming York's nicest and best row of eateries and foodie places the Hairy Fig is a delicatessen worhty of exceptional note.

first as the 'new kids on the block' the staff are open, enthusistic and contagiously excitable about food, with a passion!

There's the 'usual' deli delights, of posh cheeses, little nibbly bits from houmous to caper berries and a spicey tomatoe mussel sauced encounter that is well worth planning a whole meal around alone.

The USP Unique Selling Point of this deli are the range of European oils and dispensary of infused balsamic vinengars. check pictures: The idea is when you go for a first visit to purchase an oil/vinegar decantor of 100/200mls and then you select your preferred infusion from balsamic and tomatoe (my personal favourite), with fig, with pear, with... and so on. Some are much sweeter than others. But all are divine! From here the food adventure is your course to channel! Leave only for dipping bread into the balsamic is wasted in my opinion. Far nicer is to mix with a couple of drops of the oil of choice (also with your own refillable 100/200mls wee bottle) and to concoct your own salad dressing! Chef kudos indeed!

Once the funs been had with all the oils and balsamics, do go through into the 'quaint' back area where Mr Moo's Yorkshire real dairy ice cream will delight and make mouth's water. Essential for a NOW cooling-off sustenance.

Warning! Word is now 'out' about this little gem and despite being a mere 1 week old there were queues out the door and the houmous was totally sold out before lunch time on Saturday.

Visit once for play with oils and balsamics. Continue to re-visit to cultivate a rather charming addiction to the new tastes and palate led sensations. That or just try to get through the combination of flavours on 'tap'...

minyork at 06/06/08

I can heartily endorse this review! The Hairy Fig is an Aladdins cave of delicious foodstuffs! The sandwiches and Mr Moo's ice cream are out of this world!

mazphd at 08/06/08

oh i'm so pleased you love the hairy fig as much as i do! you must try the mussels in spicy tomoato too! :-)

minyork at 08/06/08

Lucky me! I only live 25 yards away :-) Also try the cray fish tails in spicy moroccon marinade. Outstanding!

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