DeLaurenti is certain to have every single thing on your list, save for the veal (they've even special-ordered me a case of San Marzano cherry tomatoes -- sold at a case-discount). But the best thing about the store, for me at least, isn't the fact that their cheese-case rocks, their deli-meat selection is mind-boggling and they offer a complimentary olive oil-tasting upstairs in the wine shop on the mezzanine level:

What blows me away is the proximity to I Love NY Deli kiosk, where Jon Jacobs and his crew will sell you a nice hot knish, and where -- that noble nosh in hand -- you can walk a few steps to Don & Joe's Meats for that veal, Kevin. Don, Jr.'s got a world of "various cuts" and he'll be happy to hook you up with some veal sweetbreads, brains, kidneys, tongues or -- on special this week! -- a bone-in veal shoulder roast for $3.98 a pound:

Of course, I'd be remiss if I didn't tell you about Big John's PFI. -- the retail arm of a warehouse operation that is dim, drafty and drab -- and my idea of Heaven on Earth. (Read about "Big John" right here.) I've been shopping at PFI. (that's local-speak for Pacific Food Importers) since it was housed in the way-back across from Goodwill on Dearborn some 20 years ago. Not too long ago I ran into one of my favorite cooks, Jerry Corso, while I was waiting in line for some cheese and olives, sold by the pound only, but such a deal! (When he's not shopping for ingredients himself, you'll find Jerry cooking at Betty, or playing with pasta at Spinasse, like he's doing right here):

Chances are, if you've been reading this blog from the get-go, you may recall PFI as my not-so-secret source for those amazing cans of Ma Made marmalade-makings, discussed right here where I showed you how to turn a $10 can of citrusy goodness into $80 worth of giftable gloriousity. Anyway, if you haven't been to PFI -- where you never know what kind of fun food-imports you'll find (but you know you're going to leave with many of them) -- get going. And know this: because it's at the tail-end of a big brick building in an industrial part of downtown, it's hard to find. But only if you don't know where to look. Lost? If you're staring at the sad old former old Immigration and Naturalization building on Airport Way South, it's in its backyard.

And who can forget Remo Borracchini's in Rainier Valley? Not me.

In fact, I was there a couple weeks ago buying baked goods, and after perusing the Italian ingredients lining that iconic store's shelves I left with a jar of anchovies and some fancy dried pasta, as well I should have. By the way: that Italian-food-lovin' Siciliana, restaurant critic Providence Cicero, told me not to forget to tell you about the charming little specialty foods store and cafe Bella Cosa in Wallingford. So I won't.

I'll leave you with one more tip: Eater Noriko Anderson emailed yesterday to sing the praises of another Italian-food purveyor, Dolce Europa Fine Foods in Georgetown, which specializes in imported Italian desserts. Like P.F.I. and Chefshop, it's a wholesale operation with a retail shop open to the public (thanks, Noriko!).

Now it's your turn, Eaters: Where would you send Kevin and his shopping list? And another thing: Kevin could probably use a good Italian cookbook to get started with. I'd likely steer him toward "Lidia's Italian-American Kitchen," by Joe Bastianich's mom. You?