1. Best Butchers
A British butcher who makes a unique and deliciously tender dry cured pork 'coppa,' by salting and drying pork then packing it into ox skins. Slice it thinly and serve with extra-virgin olive oil and fresh watercress or salad leaves. There's also a 'bresaola' made from wine and salt-cured venison. Call for prices and availability.
Unit 5, Lower Rectory Farm, Great Brickhill, Milton Keynes, Bucks 01908 375275.
thebestbutchers.co.uk
Mail order
Last orders: 15 December
2. Cranborne Stores
The home-baked pork pies made with meat from the estate's own pigs, reared in nearby woodland, are a welcome improvement on most pork pies. There are interestingly seasoned terrines, plus meat pies to heat and serve. 'Scotch' eggs made with pheasant eggs make an interesting change but check for availability.
1 The Square, Cranborne, Dorset; 01725 517210.
cranbornestores.co.uk
Mail order or contact for stockists
Last orders: 12 December
3. Metfield Bakery
Stuart Oetzmann attempted his first batch of raised pies in small baked bean cans, using his own recipe for buttery pastry and filling them with pork from slow-reared, rare-breed pigs. The bakery now makes thousands of pies each week with interesting additions such as apple, Norfolk rabbit, venison, pigeon and mustard. For Christmas there are limited-edition pork hampers, filled with cured meats made with every part of the pig. Game pies (£33/1.5 kg) and Norfolk chicken, duck and prune pies (£41/1.5 kg).
23 Charles Wood Road, Dereham, Norfolk; 01362 695340.
metfieldbakery.com
Mail order, or from the shop
Last orders: 13 December
4. Machiavelli
Fine Italian foods online including cured meats, olives, anti pasta including rare copocollo salami, seasoned and cured with fennel seeds; truffle-flavoured salami is a winter speciality and there are fabulous pickled and roasted vegetables. There are also fresh pastas, sauces, cheeses and panettone. Check for prices and availability. Or visit Manicomio, a deli and restaurant in London, which Machiavelli supplies.
Order online: machiavellifood.co.uk or 020 7498 0880; Manicomio, 85 Duke of York Square, London SW3; 020 230 3366.
manicomio.co.uk
Last orders: 20 December
5. Hope & Greenwood
Proper old-fashioned sweets including sherbets, flying saucers, nut brittle, fluffy mallows, lemon bonbons, lollipops, chocolate 'Things' that bear a remarkable likeness to cigarettes, jelly beans and even fairtrade sweeties. For Christmas there are Snowman mallows. 50 flying saucers, £1.75
20 North Cross Road, London SE22; 020 8613 1777.
hopeandgreenwood.co.uk
Orders: 0870 850 9049
Last orders: 7 December
6. Carluccio's
Aside from the great range of antipasti - the roast artichokes and stuffed peppers are a must - Carluccio is an authority on fungi. Try the truffle butter £4.50/80g, melted on to rice or pasta, or the truffle-infused rice (£5.50/4.30 g). Dried pasta 'ascuitta' is a good standby; and there is also an olive and almond paste and a spread made with sundried tomato and capers; both are good spooned onto toasted ciabatta.
8 Market Place, London W1.
carluccios.com
Mail order or from branches (see website for details)
Last orders: 16 December
7. Romy Cuisine
French chef Guy Simon makes fine terrines with Welsh produce. There's Farmer's terrine, with pork, chicken liver, port and shallots, pheasant pâté, potted pigeon and rilettes of pork and duck. All meat is free range and the pâtés will keep for up to a week in the fridge. A good standard is the duck confit; add to a bean casserole or bake in a simple dish of potatoes, £6.50 for two.
PO Box 106, High Street, Hay-on-Wye, Herefordshire; 0785 553 1550.
romycuisine.co.uk
Last orders: 15 December
8. Mortimer & Bennett
Dan Mortimer's shop is packed with good deli items and sweetmeats. The two Spanish turróns, de Alicante and de Jijona are the perfect after-lunch nibble with a sticky wine. For Christmas there are mulling spices, marron glacés and Maribissi Pandoro, the fruit-free panettone. There is a choice of duck with gerwurtztraminer or goose with pinot gris jelly.
Turnham Green Terrace, Chiswick, London W4; 020 8995 4145.
mortimerandbennett.co.uk
Last orders: 15 December
9. Fortnum & Mason
Christmas goodies and store cupboard items from charcuterie to Carnevale nuts, pickled English walnuts with Fortnum's LBV port and Piccadilly Piccalilli to eat with pies.There is responsibly sourced caviar too. Sevruga from £115; Beluga from £190.
181 Piccadilly, London W1; 020 7734 8040.
fortnumandmason.com
Last orders: 14 December
10. Grocer on Elgin
Ready made deli food that's as good as homemade including baba ganoush, taramasalata, Christmas duck rillette, beetroot pesto and a black truffle tapenade. For £4.75 there are ready prepared Christmas roast vegetables for two with a truffle dressing to serve.
6 Elgin Crescent, London W11; 020 7221 3844.
thegroceron.com
Local delivery available
Last orders: 21 December
