It appears that our taste for figs is evolving. Helen Walker from Te Mata Figs, which also supplies restaurants and caterers throughout the North Island and markets in Hawke's Bay, says regular customers are now ordering specific cultivars rather than just "figs". Indeed, there are many cultivars of fig and all are different in taste and appearance. Helen says the main ones will be picked later this month and the season will continue to about the end of May.
If you don't have access to figs from your own trees or those of friends and family you should find them in good food stores and greengrocers. Or Te Mata Figs will deliver them to your door. Serve your fresh figs with best mates prosciutto and cheese, or make these fig rolls for lunch.
I am thinking Warren Elwin's honey roasted figs would be nice for an Easter meal. I am going use his recipe but pop a small rolled lamb roast on top and cook it all together so the meat juices meld with the figs and vegetables ... mmmm.
