I got you all beat. I get mine for free, nada, zip.

Mom has a fig tree in the garden. Didn't think a fig tree can survive in this cold climate? Well, it cant. It needs to burried every year and dug back up. Not looking forward to burrying it this year. It has grown quite a lot.

I have a fig tree, also -- or should I say bush, because it's only about 4 feet high and I have it in a large planter on wheels. Every May we roll it out of the garage, and every Fall it goes back in before the first killing frost. In the winter it just sits leafless and without watering in the dark (semi-heated) garage.

I've had it for at least 8 years now and it really puts out a large quantity of sweet, brown, Turkish figs. They're wonderful. It's been so easy to grow -- no trouble at all. I encourage everyone to try one.

I LOVE figs. Espcially grilled with a meat entree. Camelized, they're just too good to be true.

I just found something called Mediterranean yogurt cheese (it comes in a carton) at Trader Joes. It's a very thick yogurt -- almost like creme frache -- and quite rich. I poured a bit of honey over the yogurt, added chopped walnuts and topped with sliced fresh figs. Heaven.

BTW, I used the same cheese as an appetizer topped with very good EVOO, salt, pepper, and scattered with roasted red peppers and cut up Greek olives. lovely.

The Costco on Damen was out of figs yesterday, but have another 350 packages on order that should arrive this week.

They also had buffalo mozzarella on Sunday $9.xx a lb. I didn't get it, but may next time to try it. They had the Campari tomatoes for $2.10 a lb (which I guess is a bit high for them?).

Seen on slashfood, the LA Times wrote up figs yesterday, including several recipes.

There was an abundance of fresh black figs at super H Mart yesterday. I don't remember the price for sure, but I think it was something like $3.99 or $4.99 per basket.

Marketplace on Oakton usually has fresh figs in both colors as soon as they're in season; I think the little baskets were $2.99 yesterday.

A&G produce on Belmont at Central had both colors 2 for $5. They are great and have held up well in the fridge (I bought green ones)

I bought at Costco and at J. Caputo. both were good.
I like to mix goat cheese, honey,EVOO,
lavender sea salt & fresh black pepper
and pipe into the split figs.
makes a nice app.

I poached around 6 of them with red wine, sugar, cloves, cinnamon, black pepper and leftover plum juice (I had poached a bunch of those italian plums in the red wine first) I reduced the syrup and poured it over the figs. Mmmmmmm.

How do you know when they are good and not too overripe? I'm not very familiar with figs.

The Harvestime on Lawrence sold figs today for $1.69 but I didn't buy any because I was afraid I'd buy a bad batch.

I think overripe ones tend to look sticky.

I saw some at the Oakbrook Costco last week and I should have bought them...

None at the usual suspects - Caputo's on Harlem, Tony's or Berwyn Produce...

Any leads will be appreciated.

I just picked up a box of them at Trader Joe's a week or so ago, they were located in the refrigerated case with the rest of their fresh fruit offerings.

Green and black figs at Palatine Caputo this morning $2something a pint.
I bought the black ones and they are super ripe

Saw them at Fresh Farms in Niles last week.

rickster wrote:Saw them at Fresh Farms in Niles last week.

Besides figs, they also have some fresh dates. I've never had fresh (rather than dried) dates before. They have the consistency of an apple, but the taste of a date.

Also saw figs at Whole Foods.

I've seen fresh figs, green and black, at the Caputo's on Harlem several times in the last week, including today.

Over the past month I've seen and enjoyed fresh figs from Valli's in Glendale Heights and Caputo's in Addison. I like roasted black figs with goats cheese and balsamic vinegar.

I've seen fresh figs (and dates) at Pete's Fresh Market at Cermak and Western as well as the south loop Whole Foods

Just picked up two containers today--2/$5 at Whole Foods Ashland---nice texture--not overripe. Planning to make some Fig and pear chutney..

Hi- I was in the WF in downtown Evanston last night, and they do have figs in the produce department for 2 pints/$5, but that is their sale price. I think normally they are $4 a pint. I am not sure how much longer they are on sale. Hope this helps, Nancy

I do not recall seeing figs in such quantity and so fresh ever before. In previous years I have mostly been disappointed when I bought figs because they were not that good. Anybody know what has changed that we suddenly have decent figs at a reasonable price in Chicago? Or did I just miss seeing them before and they have been here all along?

For the last two years I've been getting fresh figs from Treasure Island in lakeview.. They've had them for a few weeks now and if I remember right I was able to find them well into winter. That Treasure Island is a godsend!

I got some last month at The Fruit Store, 26 W 1st St, Hinsdale. They had green and black. Pricey, but good.

Mariano's in Arlington Heights had some gorgeous Turkish figs today for $5.99 a case.

Jyoti

Ran out of time (literally and "fig"uratively--I had about 20 minutes and the figs were edging towards the danger zone of ripeness) so I threw 3 pint containers into a pot, cooked them down with nothing but a couple of tbsp's of sugar, a few grinds of good black pepper, a couple of shakes of 5 spice and the same of cayenne pepper. I might have splashed some water in as well. Not sure what I'd call the result but it's delicious and a great base for a variety of things from a meat glaze to a schmear for bagels. Made exactly a quart which will get divie'd up and frozen for future use.

My grandmother in Alexandria La. made fig preserves that were wonderful. She would send them to us along with her pralines.

Got some this week (black and green) at the Treasure Island on Clybourn S. of Webster.