We “Give a Fig” – for the Historic Fresno Fig

(Gerry furth-Sides) We give a fig – and always did after cooking with them on tv for 22 years. We were privileged to work with the semi-dried figs – dense, packed with flavor and  The fashion industry agrees with us, and they promoted “fig” as a major color this fall season, although judging  from the variety of colors we had to guess the dark fruit was what they had in mind.

“Figalicious Fresno,” as the town likes to bill itself, world famous for the fruit, always gives a fig.   Over 1500 guests happily celebrated the majestic little fruit at the annual Fig and Fig Feast. Wineries, superlatively combined spirits with figs and cheese and artisan crackers and breads.

Top Central San Joaquin Valley restaurant chefs, bakers and purveyors serve up gourmet samplings at the event.  Purveyors sell dried and just-picked fresh figs–  and trees.

“When they announce the festival start at 9 o’clock in the morning, we know to get here by 8:30!” laughed a guest from Carmel.  The fruit – and sometimes also the other items made from figs well out quickly no how much is brought to the event.

Fruit packers, such as Fig Garden’s Rick Murphy pass out sample fruit packages and even fig newtons, though they were given competition by crunchy, buttery “Doug-Out cookies (//www.doug-out.com).

Good natured rancher and major force in the industry, Paul Mesple sports one of the “old world” ring of strung figs around his neck for fun. But these figs are a far different fruit from the “old world” tough version.

The festival highlights the contemporary fig’s unique and sumptuous flavors, ranging from deep earthy (think Pinot Noir) to the buttery nuttiness of a Chardonnay.   There were juicy, rich and satisfying treasures known as classic Calimyrna, Black Mission (named for the Spanish missionaries who planted them on their journey north along the California coast) and Kadota, along with newer star Brown Turkey.  Grins Mesple, “Calimyrna may even become passé!”

It’s cool for Fresno if it’s under 96 degrees.  We laughed when the Fig Association media director, Karla Stockli, was so pleased to tell us this on the phone.  This still beats one summer when I flew in to interview what turned out to be a marvelous young Swiss couple riding cross country and present them with fig newtons for the road.

The Fresno State’s park-like Ag East lawn holds vendors, a jazz band and fig sculpture for kids of all ages to play and pose on.

In the evening, the Fresh and dried California Fig feast surpasses all expectations. The menu sings out, “decadent. ” did Generous contributors, California Direct Nut Company, LLC, Fiscalini Cheese Company and Maple Leaf Farms also offered their finest.

The gourmet dinner associated with the Fig Festival is only one of the ways in which figs can be showcased.  Figs make even a bowl of cereal festive.  More ideas are on the website.