California and Asia Food and Wine Consultancy

LG/F 24 Upper Station St, Sheung Wan, tel: 2239 4901, fax: 2239 4623,

Company director Mark Brownstein has Scharffen Berger chocolate products from Berkeley and the likes of tangerine vinegar, thyme vinegar, black olives, mustard with garlic and parsley, and mustard with lemon confit from Lulu Condiments in Santa Rosa. Other treats include cake and pastry mixes from California.

Castello del Vino

G/F, 12 Anton St, Wan Chai, tel: 2555 8946; Basement, Shop 23, Luk Hoi Tong Building, 31 Queen's Rd Central, tel: 2866 0577

This is a treasure trove of Italian delights. It's known for its Christmas panettone - a typical Milan cake that Castello stocks up on every Christmas. This year's recommendation is the Pandoro, with its scrumptious 'melt-in-your mouth' texture. Another traditional Italian sweet stocked here is the chocolate-covered figs from southern Italy, which can be taken with an aperitif or as an after-dinner treat. 'We are the only ones stocking these chocolate-covered figs in Hong Kong,' says Claudia Capelvenere, who runs the Castello shops. As for drinks, she recommends two new red wines - Edizione 5 and Ripassa di Zenato 2001 - and, of course, Prosecco.

Colorado Meat's Deli

68B Hollywood Rd, Central, tel: 3579 2309

Christmas comes but once a year and in the countdown to the yuletide feast, the wobbly necked bird takes centre stage. This speciality meat distributor flies in turkey products from Butterball and Norbest in the US as well as American ducks, beef and lamb. The deli also carries a wide range of seafood, including Norwegian fresh salmon, Canadian sea scallops and tiger prawns from Thailand. Delivery services are available, and turkey and poultry orders should be made at least a week in advance.

FICOFI (International)

Sunwah Centre, 215-239 Wushan Rd, Tuen Mun, tel: 2404 3895 or e-mail:

FICOFI is known for its fine wine, and has some treats in store for the festive season. Try a case of six bottles from Bordeaux, presented in a wooden box. Prices range from $950 to $2,660. The company also has some wonderful unpasteurised cheeses from France, selected by affineur Herve Mons, who ages cheeses in humidity- and temperature-controlled caves. The cheeses come in 1kg (for $375) or 2kg ($750) selections, which are perfect for dinner parties. Order today if you want your cheese delivered in time for Christmas. Call the company for more information or orders.

La Vie En Rose

25 Old Bailey St, Central, tel: 2537 0066

Another outlet slowly making a name for itself is this brightly coloured little pastry shop. Owned by Della Lui, a pastry chef who trained in France, the shop specialises in pastries, confectionery, chocolates and ice cream. Specials include chocolate truffles and mousse, Black Forest, fraiser (strawberry) and mocha cakes. Lui also takes special orders.

Mini Store

1/F 44 Pan Hoi St, Quarry Bay,

tel: 2561 0814

Mini Store is like a store cupboard that holds everything required to bake the perfect Christmas cake. It has sugar, chocolate, butter, mascarpone cheese, gold and silver dragees, marzipan, modelling chocolate and praline paste, egg products, fats and oils, nuts and colourings. It also stocks a well-priced selection of bakery supplies, including inexpensive but sturdy cake decorating turntables, electric mixers, scales, grinders, cutters, moulds, decorating bags, cake and bread pans. Mini Store is owned by Amelie Sit, who also takes orders for home-baked cakes and cookies. If you want some for Christmas, give her a call.

Ocean Brand

Fax: 2841 8804 or e-mail:

Shellfish makes a healthy change from all the rich foods most of us end up stuffing ourselves with at Christmas. We suggest getting in a supper's worth of fresh oysters for dinner on Christmas Eve - all they'll need is a squeeze of fresh lemon juice and something suitable to wash them down with. Order them from Ocean Brand and you can have a box of assorted oysters delivered fresh to your door within 24 hours. However, according to Kathy Kingston, owner of Ocean Brand, she can't handle any more Christmas orders for opened oysters, but she can still deliver unopened ones. To help make the job easier, you can order an oyster knife from Ocean Brand and have it delivered with your oysters. Ocean Brand also sells South African wine - Kingston Coast Unwooded Chardonnay, Mt Burr Semillon/Sauvignon Blanc and Kingston Coast Cabernet Sauvignon.

The Organic Farm/Simply Organic

1/F, 21 Canal Rd West, Causeway Bay, tel: 2488 0138

TC Deli

GF, 10B Chap Fuk Rd, Hang Hau Village, New Territories, tel: 2358 0273

Just because it's traditional to have turkey, it doesn't mean it's the law. After all, rules were made to be broken. So why not try duck or goose? TC Deli, another grocer making a name for itself in the New Territories, orders its Berberi ducks and geese from France. Both are more moist than the traditional turkey. TC Deli specialises in Danish products, and its beef from Australia is particularly popular. It also stocks a wide selection of cold cuts and delicious hard-to-find Danish smoked gammon ham and French Bayonne ham. TC delivers all over Hong Kong for a minimum order of $500.

Tenderloin Fine Food

2602 Universal Trade Centre, 3 Arbuthnot Rd, Central, tel: 2877 2733

If you're going to be extravagant, caviar is one of those treats that's perfect to have at Christmas. It dresses up any number of dishes in a suitably money-is-no-object festive style, and is a pleasure to enjoy on its own - perhaps with a glass of ice-cold champagne - or served with hot-buttered blinis and sour cream. You can find a selection of fine caviar from Tenderloin Fine Food, a home-delivery company that specialises in imported gourmet foods. Tenderloin distributes beluga, sevruga and osetra from Iran, Russia and Manchuria, and also sells mother-of-pearl caviar spoons. It's the only company in Hong Kong that imports Lojrom, the roe of the Swedish bleak fish. As if that wasn't enough, it also specialises in goose liver, terrine, ham, lobster tails and cheese, all of which will make a useful addition to your Christmas cupboard. Call to place orders.

Viva Italia

Shop 1, G/F, Watford Rd Dairy Farm Shopping Centre, 2-4 Watford Rd, The Peak,

tel: 2849 2030; Shop 12, G/F, Palatial Crest, 3 Seymour Rd, Mid-Levels, tel: 2549 9941; Shop 3, 18 Farm Rd, Ho Man Tin, Kowloon, tel: 3514 2083; Unit 1013-14, 10/F, Horizon Plaza, 2 Lee Wing St,

Ap Lei Chau, Aberdeen, tel: 2554 6203

Viva Italia specialises in Italian produce, carrying products such as truffle oil, panforte and panettone. Look for its seasonal amaretti biscuits, grissini sticks and cheeses - the perfect way to finish off a meal. The divine San Daniele ham might tempt you to snack on it at midnight, midday, and all the hours in between. For the festive period, the chain is bringing in 100 or more types of wines, including Barolos.

Teresa Festival

5B, G/F, Dragon View House, 7-9 Hoi Kwong St, Quarry Bay, tel: 2565 1368