A comprehensive list of all the hidden gems at York Food Festival

The York food festival leaves Parliament Street on Sunday, and it breaks my heart that I haven’t been able to try every single stall.

The festival runs for ten days every year at the end of September, celebrating local food, and is a not for profit, meaning that any ticket sales for specific events fund the following year’s festival. Alongside food and drink stalls, there are cooking demonstrations, workshops, and evenings of live music with ‘Live for St. Leonards’.

That being said, here are my top picks for some of the best places to stop by next time you’re in town.

Malvavisco Marshmallows

My absolute favourite out of the entire festival, no joke. I first saw this stall last year and got tempted in with the sheer range of free samples and the encouragement to try them all, so I ran to check that they were back this year. I was genuinely shocked at how much flavour could be in one single marshmallow, particularly the lemon or the raspberry and dark chocolate flavours. This is coming from a girl who gets sick of marshmallows pretty quickly. I sampled them all (again) and walked away very content with my box of 4, raspberry flavoured marshmallows.

Moody Mare Patisserie

Food markets are known for their sweet treat stalls, but this one is on another level. They have so many different brownies, blondies, and treats – including gluten free and vegan! It’s impossible to not find something you’ll love here. From the ruby tiffin (divine) to the mint aero or toffee popcorn flavoured rocky road, there is literally no going wrong here. Also, its £7 for two, which is a steal.

Ms Tita Coffee

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Located smack dab in the middle of Parliament Street, Ms Tita Blue Mountain Coffee stood out with its elegant packaging and coffee dispenser, like a beacon to me as a tired third year student, trudging through York in the rain. An independent company, who farm their own coffee beans and have a mission of “providing ourselves with a future full of opportunity, independence, and security whilst preserving Jamaica’s beautiful habitat”.

As someone who loads up her coffee with sugars, syrup, and a whole load of milk, I was definitely hesitant to try it, but this was the most delicious, rich, smooth coffee I have ever tasted in my life. I bought a pouch of ‘Peace and Coffee’, after I was invited to smell every blend they had on offer, and will be dreaming of that taster for the rest of my life.

Punjaban

This stall is hidden away a little, over in the square past the Shambles market, and I urge you to make it all of the way over to this final part of the food festival, even if it’s only to try the Punjaban lamb samosa. The flaky pastry and a spiced filling made it a delicious snack on a cold day. It can also be heated through for you before eating, which makes it feel like a warming hug.

Bullion Chocolate Group

Another independent, own grown business, but make it chocolate! Bullion Group imports cocoa beans and makes their bars from scratch, and don’t even get me started on their brownies. They’re hidden away slightly in the corner of the tent, but if you’re like me, you’ll hone in on the giant slabs of cornflake brownies and beeline straight for them. Their chocolate bars too are fancy and delicious, with dark embossed golden packaging, and include my favourite flavour ever (chocolate orange).

Horns of Odin mead

Trying all of the honey and the mead samples here really made me feel like I was leaving my life behind, as a burned-out-in-the-first-week uni student, and entering a new medieval life as a tavern maiden. With samples of the honey as well as the mead, and flavours ranging from elderberry to pineapple and coconut, I was well on my way to embrace the Viking vibes and buy a drinking horn to boot.

The festival will return at Easter with the Chocolate Festival. Until then, this is my unofficial plea for you to try some of these  on your next trip before the festival packs up (please), for some of the most incredible food and drink I’ve ever had.

Related articles recommended by this author:

•The full rundown of Greg James’ wildest antics at the Long Boi memorial, in case you missed it

•York Food Festival: All the best tips and tricks for a cute visit this weekend

•He’s finally here! Long Boi statue unveiled by Greg James on University of York campus