Food shorts
CHEESE ON TOP The makers of Irish cheeses Milleens and Coolea have both mounted successful raids on the British Cheese Awards, taking the supreme accolade in 1997 and 2000. This year the competition is part of the Great British Cheese Festival at Blenheim Palace in Oxfordshire (September 25th-26th), where more than 1,000 cheeses can be seen, tasted and bought. You could also try your hand at cheese tossing, based loosely on a local Oxfordshire game, sign up for tutored tastings and masterclasses, or watch cheesemakers at work. The full programme of events is at www.thecheeseweb.com. Marie-Claire Digby
OFF TO MARKET The latest farmers' market for Cork started last Saturday in Douglas, where you'll find Frank Hederman's smoked fish, Arbutus freshly baked bread, Catriona Daunt's organic veg, Clodagh McKenna's pâtés, terrines, chutneys, Gubbeen cheese, bacon and sausages, Sonia Bower's pickles, Dan Ahern's organic beef and chickens, Oli O'Driscoll's fresh fish, and lots, lots, more. For more information, contact Clodagh McKenna on 087-6831602 or clodaghmckenna@eircom.net. The market will be open from 9.30 a.m. to 1.30 p.m. every Saturday at the Douglas Community Centre, Co Cork.
TAKE A PIER If you're taking a stroll down Howth's West Pier next weekend, you'd better go with an empty stomach. Every fish shop on the pier will be giving demonstrations of preparing fish including how to go about the business of filleting and cooking dishes such as paella. At "A taste of Howth", for €10, you can get eat the produce of 12 restaurants in Howth. There will also be a Slow Food stall with scrummy bits and pieces and a wine tasting in Baily Wines. President McAleese will be out for the blessing of the fishing and life boats, there will be tours of the Baily Lighthouse, traditional fishing demonstrations and walks along the cliffs. It's all part of the Howth Peninsula Festival, which inevitably centres around food and the sea. Howth Peninsula Festival, Howth Harbour, 17-18th July, www.howthpeninsula.com.
TRIED AND TESTED The recipes found in charity cookbooks are often the best to be had. When the committee of a parish, school or community group get together, they are sure to get the best out of their local contributors, who inevitably want to impress their neighbours, fellow parishioners and friends. And no better parish than Holy Trinity in Killiney, Co Dublin, for keeping up with the Joneses. Thus Naturally Delicious, 150 recipes published in aid of Holy Trinity church funds, has tried and tested favourites from the likes of Maeve Binchy, Kevin Myers, Bruce and Hugo Arnold, Gloria Hunniford, Alex Findlater, Mary Hanafin TD, Ruth Buchanan, Peter Caviston and more within its covers. Sound, simple and reliable. It costs €15 from local shops in Dalkey or by phoning 087-2460078 or 087-6308593.