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Published on December 23, 2007

With the holidays so close, if you haven't yet finished your gift shopping or even considered what you're going to offer guests dropping by for some holiday cheer, Goloso Italian Deli has some lovely solutions for you.

The delicatessen specialises in sausages, cured meats, cheeses, olive oils, vinegars and lots of fruits and vegetables - all imported from Italy - that will please the palate of anyone who loves food.

Owner Massimo Ducci has put in a range. We're not talking just olive oil or even virgin or extra-virgin olive oils. On offer are olive oils flavoured with chilli or honey, for instance. You can go for his "ordinary" but still very fine balsamico, or, as a very special present to a friend (or to yourself), he's brought in gift boxes of balsamicos of various ages. He also has olive oils in separate porcelain containers, very pretty and a good way to keep the vinegar.

Or, if the recipient of your largesse is a balsamico aficionado, you can choose tiny bottles of the vinegar, the oldest (and most expensive) being 12 years old.

On hand recently was Massimo's younger brother Gianluigi, who dropped by on a holiday and ended up helping out in the shop until just before Christmas. Assistant Rudi Chiabrando continues on hand to make the Italian sausages that Goloso sells fresh (and that you must cook after you take them home), but Goloso also offers sausages that you can find only in five-star restaurants - such as spicy salami (salame spianata romana) and hunter's sausage. One sausage, his soppressata al Prosecco, is a fine combination of meat with the white wine that makes for a tasty, tender combination.

Cured meats are available, mortadella and proscuitto di Parma, salami napoli and lots more.

In addition, cheese lovers will find themselves in their element. Fresh cheeses, such as Buffalo mozzarella, smoked cheeses and robiola, a rich creamy cheese, will brighten up any meal.

If eaten "straight", these cheeses go very well with honey, and here Massimo has a number of varieties - strong, mild, and flavoured.

Of course, there's more: Panettone and biscuits, torts and tortellini, anything Italian you can think of to satisfy your inner you.

Wines are available as well as liqueurs.

Laurie Rosenthal

The Nation