As for dessert, with all the options around, I'm not sure why anyone would ever make one at home. The signature dessert at Sugar Loaf is the white chocolate velvet cake. It's a moist sponge cake embellished with alternating layers of white and milk chocolate mousse capped with deep, dark chocolate icing. Take the whole thing home for $24.95 (serves 12) or purchase individual slices. Another good choice from the same takeout case is the triple chocolate mousse, a cake that will take care of a dozen sweet tooths for $24.95. Call ahead to reserve the whole cakes and pies at the bakery or take your chances when you drop in. This bakery/restaurant is open on Christmas Day.

The key lime pie from the Caribbean Pie Company at 2820 Clark Road in Sarasota (926-9399) is always welcome on the dessert menu and makes an especially nice treat for Northern visitors enjoying a tropical Yule. But there are other pies in the takeout case, apple and cherry, chocolate or peanut butter waiting to be whisked away.

French pastries will elevate any takeout meal, so get your sweets where you can also pick up Beluga caviar, chestnuts, goose liver pate, and glossy terrines that are velvety rich inside. The place is French Affair at 2637 Mall Drive in Sarasota (925-3414). This award-winning restaurant/catering company stocks a wonderful dessert case full of fruit tarts, Napoleons, eclairs, and French cakes, chocolate mousse and creme brulée.

At this time of the year, the French Affair pastry chef makes his traditional French Yule log in chocolate or mocha. The logs start at six inches and grow to suit the size of your dinner party. Order ahead or take your chances when you drop in. And do select a few cheeses for your European dessert experience and a bottle of dessert wine. The French Affair is a reliable place to purchase wine because the selection is varied, the advice is good and the prices are reasonable. When you get home, whip out the doilies, a round silver pastry tray and know that even Martha Stewart would bless your holiday cleverness.

HOLIDAY EMERGENCY KIT

Make sure you keep these choices in your pantry or freezer for impromptu cocktail parties and at-home holiday cheer.

- Large can of mixed nuts

- Cheeses: cheddar, brie, chevre, whatever. Also, put aside a couple packs of that flavorless sliced American cheese. Almost all little children will eat a grilled cheese sandwich, but they like the mild cheeses. If you're catering to kids over the holidays, lay in a few boxes of Kraft Macaroni and Cheese and a box of Cheerios which tykes will enjoy dry as a snack or with milk as breakfast cereal.

- Deli olives, black and green. Kash 'N Karry now has a really nice olive section with at least a half dozen varieties. Another reliable olive source is the Sahara Market. And Casa Italia is olive paradise.

- Crackers, including my new best friend, Perel cuisine dipping crackers. They're made by a company in San Rafael, California, which produces wine-inspired foods such as Cabernet Sauvignon fudge and Zinfandel orange mustard. Shaped like grape leaves, the wheat crackers are slightly bowl-shaped so that spread or dip stays in the center with less chance of spills from tray to mouth. A box retails for about $4 and can be found at Morton's Market, The Butcher Block on 17th Street in Sarasota and at Michael's Wine Cellar at Midtown Plaza in Sarasota.

- Spreads and dips: Transfer from the plastic container into one of your pretty holiday bowls. The salmon spread at Morton's is mild and satisfying. Horseradish and bacon has more bite. All the patés and terrines at French Affair are worth taking home.

- Snack mix: There are several blends in varying degrees of spiciness and Pepperidge Farm makes pretty good ones. Many hosts choose blends that omit peanuts because of allergy possibilities. You can buy huge bags economically at Sam's or B.J.'s clubs.