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Whether they're sweetly British or exotically foreign London's delis are a great place to pick up gifts for difficult relatives, sort out some impressive extras for your parties, or find little short-cuts to the perfect Christmas dinner. We won't tell anyone if you don't.
 A Gold 42 Brushfield Street, E1 6AG The painted, panelled exterior could come straight from a BBC Dickens adaptation, making A Gold a perfect spot at Christmas. It’s London’s only delicatessen to specialise entirely in British produce, and if the jams, lemonades and clotted cream fudge seem laughably Enid Blyton-esque, it’s also at the forefront of the New British cuisine championed by chefs like Gordon Ramsay and Fergus Henderson. There are excellent meats and cheeses, but its strongest points are in the store-cupboard with the drinks, biscuits and preserves of bygone eras, which make excellent, nostalgic gifts. Pop into the equally beautiful Verde and Co next door (owned by the writer Jeanette Winterson) if you need to complement your shopping with something more continental. Address: 42 Brushfield Street, E1 6AG Phone: 020 7247 2487 Timing: Mon to Fri: 11:00 - 20:00, Sun: 11:00 - 18:00, Closed Sat. Christmas Opening 2007: To be confirmed Nearest Station: Liverpool Street Tube / Rail A Gold - Information   Melrose and Morgan42 Gloucester Avenue, NW1 8JD If you want Christmas to be a holiday, rather than simply moving from your normal work to a job as a full-time chef/caterer, then check out Melrose and Morgan. The groceries are excellent, but the real joy is in their pre-prepared meals, with everything from freshly carved roasts to a ‘Cheats Christmas in a Box’ - a comprehensive selection of Christmas dinner essentials, including pudding, stuffing and even pre-chopped vegetables. Cheats Christmas (minimum order for 6 people): £49.95 turkey, £56.95 goose Address: 42 Gloucester Avenue, NW1 8JD Phone: 020 7722 0011 Timing: Mon to Fri 8:00-20:00, Sat 9:00-18:00, Sun 10:00-16:00 Christmas Opening: As usual. Early closing Mon 24th December (Christmas Eve) 16:00 Nearest Station: Chalk Farm Tube Melrose and Morgan - Information  Mortimer & Bennett33 Turnham Green Terrace, W4 1RG This small delicatessen becomes almost unbearably crowded in the build-up to Christmas, and not only because the knowledgeable staff and customers always have a thorough gossip. Alongside a world-beating selection of cheeses, salamis, and pates in the chiller cabinet, the back of the shop is full of thrilling, unusual foodie gifts, sourced from micro-producers throughout Europe. Address: 33 Turnham Green Terrace, W4 1RG Phone: 020 8995 4145 Timing: Mon to Fri 8:30-18:00, Sat 8:30-17:30 Christmas Opening 2007: Open December Sundays 9:00-16:00. Early-closing Mon 24th December (Christmas Eve) 15:00. Otherwise usual opening times. Nearest Station: Turnham Green Tube Mortimer & Bennett - Information  Panzer's13-19 Circus Road, NW8 6PB Panzer's have become experts in everything-under-one-roof Christmas shopping for London’s homesick Americans, including ‘Skippy’ peanut butter and ‘Oscar Meyer’ bacon (which, incidentally, is far superior to any British brand for making stuffing or pigs-in-blankets). Londoners also travel here from all over the capital for their famous smoked salmon, while north London’s Jewish community can celebrate Hanukkah or a secular Christmas with kosher hampers. Smoked salmon: £16/lb Hampers: £70-£300 Address: 13-19 Circus Road, NW8 6PB Phone: 020 7722 8596 / 8162 Timing: Mon to Fri 8:00-19:00, Sat 8:00-18:00, Sun 8:00-14:00 Christmas Opening 2007: As usual Nearest Station: St. John's Wood Tube Panzer's - Information  The Grocer on Elgin6 Elgin Crescent, W11 2HX On the December days when you don’t have to cook roast beef for 11, or get up in the middle of the night to put a 23lb turkey in the oven, it’s always tempting to just put your feet up in front of the telly and munch on a ready meal. This is, of course, the worst thing to do if you're wanting to lower the calorie-count in this heavily indulgent season. The Grocer on Elgin's fresh easy-to-prepare meals are a healthier solution when you’re too tired to cook. Dishes like lemon and thyme risotto or chicken with Alsace bacon and mushrooms are made on the day with organic, free-range ingredients, and can be microwaved up in minutes. They also make absolutely fantastic fresh breads and patisserie. Lemon and thyme risotto: £3.85 Chicken with Alsace bacon and mushrooms: £5.50 Address: 6 Elgin Crescent, W11 2HX Phone: 020 7221 3844 Timing: Shop - Mon to Fri 8:00-20:00, Sat & Sun 8:00-18:00 | Cafe - Mon to Sun 8:00 - 17:00 Christmas Opening 2007: To be confirmed Nearest Station: Ladbroke Grove Tube The Grocer on Elgin - Information |
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