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Treat yourself to a tree
There are times when something is so kitsch it almost becomes classy. At Harrods you can get Chocolate Trees, handmade assemblies of chocolates that look like a cross between a pot plant and a bouquet, right. You can have a "tree" made from "Mint milk chocolate truffles" or "Strawberry truffle hearts" or even one made from marshmallows in a terracotta pot. They cost anywhere between £25 and £80. Harrods, 87-135 Brompton Road, SW1 (020 7730 1234, www.harrods.com)

Beer necessities
Lovers of rare beers will be pleased to hear that the Drinks Cage at Borough Market will now open on Wednesdays (in addition to Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays). Some of the stand-outs among the range of often obscure brews are beers from Somerset's Moor brewery - Summerland (£4.40/660ml) and the JJJ IPA at a serious nine per cent (£7/660ml). Also worth a try are beers from Oakham - this Rutland brewery makes inspired use of American hops - Citra (£2.30/500ml) and Inferno (£2.70/500ml), only recently available in bottles. Or if you have a dinner party pending, what about a bottle or two of Goose Island Bourbon County beer? Imported from an American craft brewery, this is pricy but very good indeed (£17/650ml). The Drinks Cage, Borough Market, SE1 (020 7378 6617, utobeer.co.uk)

Pattie power
It's exciting when two cultures collide, and at Vanna Patisserie on Goldhawk Road you can taste what happens when a Chinese-run bakery gets hold of a Caribbean recipe book. Here the patties are authentically spicy but huge - about 250g each - so it's like biting into a large Cornish pasty with attitude. You can pick from beef, lamb, chicken, vegetable (mainly chick peas) and spinach. Plenty of chilli heat and a modest £1 each. Follow it up with an big slab of cake for just 70p - the carrot cake is good and moist, the banana cake is excellent. Vanna Patisserie, 64 Goldhawk Road, W12 (020 8740 6784)