2003 November 29, Magazine, The Times

Sheila Keating scoured the pantries of the best suppliers in the land to make your party entertaining deliciously easy.

Stefano Vallebona is a Sardinian who started his compnay, Vallebona Sardinian Gourmet, to supply food from small producers to Italian restaurants, such as the River Cafe and Assaggi, and stores such as Fortnum & Mason. However, he likes nothing better than to chat to private customers about his produce, such as wild fennel pork salami, wild boar salami, olives, smoked beef, olive oil breadsticks, the national spciality bottarga (grey mullet or tuna roe), air-dried tuna in olive oil, panettone, cheeses, hand-made sweets and hampers, which start at £7 for a chocolate selection. Last orders December 16 (020-8944-5665, www.vallebona.co.uk).