The 10 best party foods

If you’ve slaved over a hot stove this Christmas, these ready-made bites are a treat for hosts as well as guests

Kate Hilpern
Tuesday 27 December 2011 20:00 EST

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1. Wonderful Pistachios Sweet Chilli

£3.19 (250g), sainsburys.co.uk (currently on offer at two for £5)

A new bagful that has a warming kick to set taste buds tingling and offset the cold weather outside.

2. Waitrose Mini Beef Wellingtons

£5.99 for 12, waitrose.com

A tiny treat made from British beef topped with a mushroom duxelle, wrapped in puff pastry and topped with poppy seeds.

3. Tyrrells Sour Cream and Roast Garlic Crisps

£1.89 (150g), sainsburys.co.uk

One of our favourites, the inspired Herefordshire crisp-maker's new winter double act is of sweet, subtle roasted garlic and sour cream.

4. Croquets de Provence

£2.99, lakeland.co.uk

These crunchy croquets are deliciously nibbly, owing their flavour to Mediterranean olives and tomatoes. Lakeland has a buy-one-get-another-half-price offer.

5. M&S Tiger Prawn Lollipops on Sugar Cane

£5.99 for 12, marksandspencer.com

These lollipops with sugar cane sticks are very tasty, with a true "wow" factor for this price range.

6. Tesco Finest Slow Roasted Pork Belly Squares with BBQ Sauce

£4 for 18, tesco.com

Pork belly is rubbed with sea salt, pepper and herbs, smoked and slow-cooked. The result is divine.

7. Fortnum & Mason Irish Organic Smoked Salmon

From £9.50, fortnumandmason.com

Good smoked salmon is stunning, and this is beautifully moist, yet firm enough – perfect party food.

8. Cheesecake Minis

From £30 for nine, englishcheesecake.com

Party food doesn't have to be all crisps and sausage rolls. This bakery has a new range of fabulous hand-made luxury mini cheesecakes.

9. Olives Et Al Everything but the music

£27.50, olivesetal.co.uk

This brand-new box from Olives Et Al includes absolutely everything you need for a party – outstanding olives, nuts, fritas and more.

10. Grate Britain All British Cheese Biscuits

£2.36 (100g), theuniqueboutiquecompany.com

Biscuits that are best served slightly warm for a melt-in-the-mouth explosion of loveliness.

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