Our full range of Christmas Hampers is now available online. Check out our Italian Food Hampers for more details.
 

You can either choose one of our pre-made hampers, or alternatively you can ‘Create Your Own’ from our huge range of Italian products. They really do make the ideal gift for anyone this Christmas.

Our latest find from Oliveri in Piemonte is this Bagnetto Verde, an unusual tasty herby spread.
 

It is made with parsley, anchovies, tuna, eggs and capers and is a traditional accompaniment to mixed boiled meats in Piemonte.  It’s also delicious spread onto steamed fish or add a dollop to your fishcake mixture for a bit of a kick.

This iconic jar contains the world famous Amarena Fabbri from Emilia.
 

 
The best quality wild cherries are selected, stoned and candied in amarena cherry syrup.
 

As well as being delicious with vanilla ice-cream, these amarena cherries are great baked into cakes and muffins.
 

Don’t waste the syrup either: mix it with Prosecco for a tasty aperitif, or with sparkling water for a refreshing drink.

The latest addition to our Balsamic range if this Balsamic Glaze with Cocoa.  

This syrupy, sweet glaze is made from the reduction of good quality balsamic vinegar from Modena mixed with grape must.
 

It contains dark cocoa powder to give it a rich chocolatey flavour.  Try drizzling it over creamy gorgonzola cheese for an original canape, or over vanilla ice cream for a no-effort dessert.

The latest addition to our range of coffees is this ground 100% Arabica, made from the best quality beans from Central and South America.

Its fragrant and aromatic flavour makes the perfect espresso. Try it with a shot of Anice for an extra special Caffé Corretto.

These soft amaretti are our latest discovery from Northern Italy. They are handmade by Moriondo Carlo, an artisan producer from Piemonte whose tradition for biscuit making dates back two centuries.
 

Only the finest quality apricot kernels and almonds are used to give these soft amaretti their distinctive flavour. Each bag contains 10 individually wrapped biscuits. They make an original gift and are perfect to round off a meal with a shot of espresso.

Try this tasty new dish to celebrate the British asparagus season.

Makes 2 individual tarts

150g ready made puff pastry
100g fresh asparagus
1 large shallot
1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil *
200ml double cream
60g Pecorino Toscano, grated *
2 eggs
salt & pepper
grated nutmeg

The products marked with * are available from our online deli. Just click on the link for more details.

1) Preheat the oven to 200 degrees centigrade.

2) Roll out the puff pastry to a 3mm thickness (about the thickenss of a £1 coin). Line 2 x 14cm fluted loose-bottomed tins, pressing the pastry right into the edge of the base, then trim the top edge.

3) Prick the base with a fork, line with greaseproof paper and fill with baking beans (uncooked rice does the trick if you have no beans). Place onto a baking sheet and cook in the oven for 15 minutes. Remove the baking beans and put back into the oven for another 3-4 minutes.

4) In the meantime, roughly chop the asparagus and slice the shallot.

5) Heat the extra virgin olive oil in small pan, and add the shallot and asparagus. Cook over a moderate heat for 5 minutes. Season with salt & pepper.

6) Mix together the double cream, pecorino cheese and eggs, then season with salt & pepper.

7) Put the asparagus mixture into the bottom of the cooked pastry case, then pour over the creamy filling.

Grate a little nutmeg over the top of the tart, put onto a baking sheet and cook for 15 minutes, until the centre is just set.

We had a lovely surprise last week when our Pear and Pine Nut Jam from Oliveri was awarded 5 stars and product of the month by ITALIA! magazine.

We always knew it was delicious, but you don’t need to take our word for it, this is what the ITALIA! judges thought:

‘This chic little jar holds within it a real taste sensation, and although all of the contenders in this month’s ITALIA! taste test fared pretty well with the judges, this one stood out  as a hands-down winner – there wasn’t a bad word anyone on the panel could say about this jammy little gem from Piemonte. An innovative blend of pear and pine nut (the inclusion of a few whole pine nuts adds a great extra dimension to the texture), this jam boasted a wonderfully smooth texture as well as a juicy, interesting and very more-ish taste. Not just a great addition to bread, but also the perfect accompaniment to cheese and salumi.’

Take advantage of our special prices on our range of flavoured extra virgin olive oils, currently 30% off.

Choose from Basil, Orange, Lemon or Chilli and Garlic.  Made using the Gentile variety of olive, these naturally flavoured unfiltered oils are perfect for drizzling over grilled meats and fish or dressing salads. Perfect for the barbeque season!

It’s not too late to order your gift for Mother’s Day this Sunday.  Choose from our great range of hampers and gift boxes, including our Breakfast in Bed Hamper.



Alternatively, you can create your own box or tray full of delights and add your own personalised message.