Deck the halls and stock the larder – it's time to get in goodies that will last through the holidays, feed a crowd and tempt you downstairs in the middle of the night for just one more . . . MARIE-CLAIRE DIGBYgoes gourmet shopping. Styled by PHYL CLARKE. Photographed by ALAN BETSON.
TOP SHELF (l to r):Clementine shortbread rounds, €5.99 from M&S; Belgian biscuit selection 1kg, €21, M&S; Scottish shortbread petticoat tails, €8.99, M&S; Belgian chocolate assortment, €6.99, Tesco; Virginia classic Amaretti biscuit tins, €18.99, Donnybrook Fair; matured iced Christmas cake, €20, SuperValu; Francisco Moreno glacé fruits, €10.50, 64Wine, Glasthule; Pratto Belli Cantuccini, €9.80, Avoca; Belgian chocolate biscuit selection, €6.99, Tesco; Chocolate ganache pralines, €3.99, Lidl; Specially Selected glazed Irish whiskey Christmas cake, €9.99, Aldi; Caffarel Nicciolotto chocolate gift bag, €13.95, Anderson's Food Hall, Glasnevin.
SECOND SHELF (l to r):Campbells tea, €6.49, from Superquinn; Snowy Flakes mini marshmallows, €4.30, Avoca; French rosemary honey, €4.50, Harvey Nichols, Dundrum; Whittards skinny hot chocolate, €5.95, and white hot chocolate, €7.99, Avoca; Beaufor Dijon mustard, 1kg, €3.99, Cavistons, Glasthule; Mariangela Prunotto organic pasta sauces, €3.29, Donnybrook Fair; Sicilian extra virgin olive oil gift pack, €23, M&S; Fig balsamic mostarda, €8.95, Fallon & Byrne; La Vecchia Dispensa balsamic vinegar, €9.69, Donnybrook Fair; hazelnut oil, €5.99, and walnut oil, €2.99, M&S; Fructus extra virgin olive oil (in gold foil), €16.59; Balsamic dipping oil and chilli dipping oil, €1.79, Lidl; Superior Quality balsamic vinegar of Modena, €14.99, Superquinn; Castiglioni spaghetti, €5.75, Avoca; Scottish shortbread, €5.99, Aldi; Spanghero Confit duck legs (tin of four), €16.95, Cavistons; organic vegetable bouillon, €7.50, and risotto rice, €5.90, Avoca; Taste No 5 Umami Paste, €3.95, Fallon & Byrne; pink grapefruit marmalade, €9.95, and raspberry jam, €10.99, Avoca; Lewis Coopermini glazed fruit cake, €8.35, Avoca; Deluxe handcooked crisps, €1.99, Lidl; antipasti jar of chillies, sundried tomatoes and peppers in oil, €19.50, M&S; peaches in Marc de Champagne €8.24, M&S.
THIRD SHELF (l to r):Ready to use Puy lentils, €2.99, M&S; Porcini mushroom risotto, €5.49, M&S; Campanini carnaroli and arborio rice (just seen), €4.50, 64Wine; Risotto kits, €3.95-€4.45,Harvey Nichols; white chocolate, rich chocolate and salted caramel sauces, €4.39, M&S; Superior Quality Italian extra virgin olive oil, €9.99, Superquinn; Castillo de Canena First Day Arbequina olive oil, €19.95, Fallon & Byrne; Homemade by Clodagh ketchup, €4.50, Arnotts; fig syrup, €6.95, Fallon & Byrne;Terribly Clever tagine and casserole bases, €2.99, M&S; Terribly Clever canape mixes, €1.09, M&S; Ortiz tuna, €39, 64Wine; Mario Fongo Lingue di Suocera Italian bread, €6.50, 64Wine; truffle salt, €10.75, Fallon & Byrne; mulled wine chutney, €2.49, and wholegrain mustard with Guinness, €1.49, Lidl; Luxury fruit and nut selection, €2.49, Lidl; Olives et Al harissa paste, €3.89, Donnybrook Fair; Farringtons Mellow Yellow mustard, €3.89, Donnybrook Fair; Olived et Al Tomorosso Siciliano, €6.95, Donnybrook Fair; Fine Cheese Company crackers for artisan cheese, €9.50; spice sachets for Champagne cocktails, €5.20, Harvey Nichols; tomato and apple chutney, €4.50, Cafe Rua, Castlebar; Vallejo extra virgin olive oil five-litre tin, €29.95, Cavistons
FOURTH SHELF (l to r):Really Good organic coffee, €8.50, cubascoffee.com; Fair Trade coffee, €8.35, Harvey Nichols; Specially Selected Ethiopian coffee, €2.69, Aldi; (on cake stand) Florentines, €2.99, Aldi, and mince pies, €4.50 for six, Cavistons; Homemade by Clodagh berry jam, €5.95, Arnotts; Baci di Dama cookie tin (€10.40) and Double Choc Chip cookie tin (€5.75), just seen, from Harvey Nichols; Turkey Delight spice mix, mulled wine spice mix, garam masala and butter chicken spice mix, (€2.50-€4), greensaffron.com; Loison Panettone Classico, €23.95, Anderson's Food Hall; mini stollen, €4.50, Anderson's Food Hall; large toasted almond icing Christmas cake, €63.95, Avoca (on cake stand); luxury chocolate assortment, €23.50, Harvey Nichols; Borders Deliciously Different lemon souffle cookie tin, €12.50, Cavistons; Weihs Stollen, 1kg, €20-€25 (see stollenweihs.de for stockists ); The Amazing Anthology of Sweet Seductions by Marcel Wanders, €30, M&S; Favorina gingerbread, €2.49, Lidl; Amedei 70 per cent chocolate 1kg slab (on cake stand), €32, Cavistons.
FIFTH SHELF (l to r):Finest West Country Biscuits for Cheese, €3.50, Tesco; Homemade by Clodagh lemon curd, €4.95, Arnotts; Cashel Blue cheese, by weight, from Sheridans Cheesemongers, and other stockists; Savoury Nibbles selection, €10.79, M&S; Brady Family Ham, 4kg glazed ham on the bone, €49.99, widely available from supermarkets and independents, or tel: 045-847025; Doorus Italian mustards, €8.95 for set of three, Anderson's; Plum puddings, €23.99, Cavistons; Favorino Pandoro, €5.99, Lidl; Antica truffles, €9.95, Anderson's.
