It was mid September when walking in Dalry Road I noticed a sign for ‘Il fruttivendolo’. For a second, I thought I was back in Italy as I realized an Italian greengrocer had just opened in the neighbourhood.
In Italy, every town has its own ‘fruttivendolo’ along with a butcher, baker and local supermarket. The fruits and veg are very seasonal and likely to come from the farms around the area.
Il Fruttivendolo is Italian-owned and Dalry is the second shop, the first opened in Linlithgow September 2020. Certain postcodes in the city can opt for online shopping with free delivery for £100 or over but a modest £250 otherwise. The website offers a recipe section, to help you cook vegetables you may not be familiar with or if you are on the lookout for fresh ideas. You can also buy gift cards to surprise your foodie friends.
The first time I visited Fruttivendolo I felt like Alice in Wonderland. There was radicchio and my beloved Fichi d’India, aka prickly pears which are widely present in Sicily but almost impossible to find in Scotland.
The wide range of vegetables encompasses a rainbow of tomatoes, courgettes, aubergines, leaves and more. You can also get chestnuts that when roasted make the famous ‘caldarroste’, an Italian street food treat which we Italians enjoy in the coldest months.
Fruits and veg, though, aren’t the only items in the shop. The counter showcases a range of pastries including the most loved (mini) cannoli filled with a range of fillings (coffee, tiramisu, pistachio, etc.)
The shelves are home to pasta, spices, biscuits, sauces and every time I visit I discover something new. The fridge offers mozzarella, burrata, charcuterie, sausages, pizza. There is also a plant corner, a lively and colourful touch which includes Chilli and ‘Swiss Cheese’ plants.
Prices are higher than supermarkets but worth it for the quality and freshness of the products. I would recommend anyone to have a wander and get inebriated by the colours and smells of Italy.
Il Fruttivendolo, 110 Dalry Road, EH11 2DW
Open Mon-Sat 9am-7pm. Sunday 10am-6pm. 0131 261 9143