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Nine of the best farm shops and delis in London and the UK
Where to go for a tempting array of local and regional specialities, and an enviable selection of fresh, seasonal produce
Founded in 1934, this Edinburgh institution is Scotland's oldest Italian delicatessen and wine merchant. It started out as a market stall providing a taste of home for the country's Italian immigrant community. Now, in addition to its popular bricks-and-mortar store it has expanded online and opened two cafes and concessions in three food halls across the country. Across the decades its commitment to showcasing the very best Italian produce has remained just as strong; browse the aisles and you'll find an abundance of the finest pastas, cheeses, olive oils and more. Fresh fruit and vegetables are the cornerstone of the country's cuisine, and here you can pick up flavoursome varieties imported directly from the markets in Milan. And don't leave without sampling one of the specialities from the on-site bakery.
Join more than 350,000 subscribers and keep yourself informed with a selection of The Week’s most interesting, enlightening and entertaining stories - plus daily puzzles.
Join more than 350,000 subscribers and keep yourself informed with a selection of The Week’s most interesting, enlightening and entertaining stories - plus daily puzzles.
Owners Chris and Christine Garnett both come from Yorkshire farming families, and their respect and knowledge of local suppliers and ingredients really shows in the products they sell, around 70 per cent of which are sourced within the region. Head to the ground floor for fresh produce and a well-stocked delicatessen counter, with specialities including generously filled, made-to-order sandwiches, as well as a tempting selection of pies, sausage rolls and quiches. Upstairs is a treasure trove of preserves, confectionery and unusual cooking ingredients, from Puckett's Pickles, where everything from the in-season fruit and vegetables to the jars it's bottled in is British, to treats from award-winning Leeds-based chocolatier Lauden.
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This popular shop in Cambridgeshire specialises in wholesome, homemade fare, as well as bringing together the best artisan food producers from around the UK and further afield. In addition to ice cream, cakes and other sweet treats produced on-site are hearty, takeaway meals such as casseroles, lasagnes, fish pieces and tagines, made using free-range meat and with a focus on sustainable ingredients. Elsewhere, it leans on experienced producers and suppliers to stock its shelves with top-notch cured meats, baked goods, beverages and more, working with specialists including award-winning local wine merchants Noel Young Wines and cheese experts Neal's Yard Dairy.
This family-run delicatessen in the heart of Soho has been supplying the local community with Italian delicacies for over 70 years, and today customers travel from all over the city to sample its fresh pasta, made on site. For those further afield, it also sells an impressive selection of store cupboard essentials, meats, cheeses and antipasti online. From specialist flours to an array of olive oils, it has all you need to elevate your everyday home cooking, as well as offering indulgences including a wide range of liqueurs, wines and authentic Italian coffee.
The Garthwaite family have been farming for five generations and now produce more than 80 per cent of everything sold in their Yorkshire shop, with the rest coming from the surrounding area where possible. Its helpful butchers are happy to dispense tips on how to make the most of their award-winning goods, including ham and bacon that has been dry-cured in-house and beef steaks matured on the bone for at least 21 days for optimum taste. Don't leave without heading upstairs, which is a treasure trove for wine connoisseurs. Alongside a choice of over 250 different bottles – including plenty of organic and biodynamic options – you will also find some of the best ales and beers from around Wakefield.
It's impossible to pass this food hall without being enticed in by the waft of fresh baking, courtesy of winner of 2010 MasterChef: The Professionals, Claire Lara, who keeps the cake counter well stocked with all manner of tempting take-home treats. And once dessert is sorted, you can turn your attention to the array of savoury items on offer, from the full-service cheese, charcuterie and salad counters to store cupboard essentials sourced responsibly from independent producers. It also hosts a concession from family-run butchers Edge & Son, allowing you to rest assured that your meat is not only local, but also produced with high welfare standards in mind.
Michele Lastilla from Puglia in Italy founded this mini-chain of restaurants and delis in 2012, with the aim of bringing the best ingredients from the region to cities around the world. In its London outpost, his passion for produce shines through the casual dining on offer; from light salads with creamy burrata, cacioricotta or podolico cheeses to the fresh pastries from the bakery counter, including pasticciotto – a custard tart filled with hazelnut, black cherry or chocolate – or the delicate and flaky torta alla ricotta. You'll also find all you need to recreate the vibrant tastes of Puglia at home, including many types of pasta and sauces and the finest extra-virgin, cold-pressed and organic olive oils. And don't forget to pick up a bottle of local wine to accompany your meal.
Based on sheer choice alone, few can rival Spanish specialists Ultracomida, but the award-winning shop also has a decade of experience in picking out the best big brands and artisan producers. As well as an online store that will deliver across the UK, it has restaurants in the Welsh towns of Aberystwyth and Narberth, which, alongside the delicatessen, serve tapas menus brimming with jamon Serrano, chorizo and cured meats, Manchego cheese and tempting small plates of seafood.
The produce available at this deli and farm shop is as local as they come. All the meat is either from the farm itself or sourced within five miles, and its free-range pork is turned into a range of award-winning speciality sausages, bacon and ham. The same ethos is applied to the fruit and vegetables, which come freshly plucked from its fields, and from as near as possible when out of season. For more ready-to-go options the farm sells a selection of homemade cakes, pies and ready meals, alongside locally produced store-cupboard staples such as preserves and honey.
