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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 - produce hails from Cornwall (try the saffron cakes) to Scotland (clootie dumplings are a speciality). If you're a fan of the New British style championed by chefs like Gordon Ramsay and Fergus Henderson this place has all the ingredients you need. There are excellent meats and British cheeses and at this time of year their hampers, handmade puddings and sugar mice are especially popular. They also score points with the drinks - try a fermented honey mead or sloe gin - and with 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 9.30am-5.30pm, Sat & Sun 11am-6pm Christmas Opening 2008: Closed Wed 24th December (Christmas Eve) & Thu 25th December (Christmas Day) 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 a move from your normal work to full-time catering, 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 8am-8pm, Sat 8am-6pm, Sun 9am-5pm Christmas Opening: As usual. Early closing Wed 24th December (Christmas Eve) 4pm Nearest Station: Chalk Farm Tube Melrose and Morgan - Information  Mortimer and Bennett33 Turnham Green Terrace, W4 1RG This small delicatessen set up by Dan Mortimer and Di Bennett 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-class 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 8.30am-6pm, Sat 8.30am-5.30pm | Closed Sun Christmas Opening 2008: To be confirmed Nearest Station: Turnham Green Tube Mortimer and 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. Christmas Hampers, costing between £70 and £295, can be delivered to UK and European destinations within 24 hours. Address: 13-19 Circus Road, NW8 6PB Phone: 020 7722 8596 / 8162 Timing: Mon to Fri 8am-7pm, Sat 8am-6pm, Sun 8am-2pm Christmas Opening 2008: 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. The information below refers to the original Notting Hill store however there's a second branch on the Kings Road. 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 8am-8pm, Sat & Sun 8am-6pm Christmas Opening 2008: To be confirmed Nearest Station: Ladbroke Grove Tube The Grocer on Elgin - Information |
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