Marie-Claire Digby's round-up of other food news
School for chefs
It's not just the kids who have gone back to their books - the new term is well underway at cookery schools all around the country. Christine Jordan is back at the helm of Tasteworks Cookery School in Leighlinbridge, Co Carlow, after a year living in the US. "Back to Basics" is her theme for the year, with occasional forays into the cuisines of Spain, Thailand, Italy and Mexico. www.tasteworks.net
At Dublin Cookery School (above) the autumn line-up of guest chefs includes Tamasin Day-Lewis (October 10th-11th) and Clodagh McKenna (November 14th-15th). There are day-long courses at this stylish venue every Saturday between October 4th and December 13th, and a new, one-week course, "Entertaining Friends" debuts on November 3rd. www.dublincookeryschool.ie.
At Cooks Academy in Dún Laoghaire, Co Dublin, there is great excitement surrounding the publication, on October 3rd, of the Cooks Academy Cookbook, written by co-owner Vanessa Greenwood. Italian food expert Ursula Ferrigno returns for a two-day stint (October 25th-26th), and Domini Kemp is joining the line-up of guest chefs. www.cooksacademy.com.
The little ones will get a chance to roll up their sleeves and get stuck in at a Halloween cookery class at Ballyknocken Cookery School in Co Wicklow (October 25th). Witches' brew and scary spiders are on the menu. www.thecookeryschool.ie.
WEB WATCH
www.lidl-recipes.ie
Culinary inspiration from the cut-price foodstore, for the times that are in it. It's not exactly haute cuisine, but the ingredients are all available under one roof. And today and tomorrow, to coincide with National Organic Week, there is a third off the price of Lidl's organic fruit and veg, and all other organic products are selling for half price.
Let them eat burgers...or shushi
If walls had ears . . . there would be a few racy tales to tell when the doors close for the last time next Sunday on Cooke's Cafe in Dublin 2. After 16 years in South William Street, Johnny Cooke is moving on and Abrakebabra founder Graham Beere is moving in. Cooke has a new restaurant concept up his sleeve, and will be concentrating on his private catering business until he finds a suitable premises to launch his "next big thing", while Beere plans to open a branch of either Gourmet Burger Kitchen or Yo! Sushi on the South William Street site.
Water, water, from everywhere
Is the recession biting so hard that we're leaving the rare vintages on the wine shelves and reaching for the water instead? Superquinn's nationwide "World of Water" promotion, which showcases bottled waters from all over the world, would certainly suggest that we're getting more picky about what we put in our tumblers. But with Bling H2O, in its Swarovsky crystal-embellished bottle, selling for a cent under €45, penny-pinching is not an issue. Last week there were just eight bottles remaining in the locked, 20-bottle display case in the Blackrock branch, so someone is buying it . . . you know who you are! Superquinn purchasing director Sheena Forde said: "Bling H2O will appeal to our luxury conscious shoppers, many of whom are purchasing the bottle as a fun addition to their dinner parties." Better for the soul, by far, to treat yourself to a 79 cent bottle of Earth water, the profits from which go to the United Nations refugee agency.
Get the pick of the crop
Blueberries are one of those things that often carry gasp-inducing price tags. But you can pick your own from the bushes at Derryvilla Blueberry Farm near Portalington, Co Offaly for just €8 a kilo. If you prefer someone else to do the hard work, the ready-picked price is €12 a kilo. John and Belinda Seager, owners of the farm, report that this year's crop is a bumper one, despite the rain, and harvesting of the pesticide-free berries will continue until the middle of next month. Pickers are welcome between the hours of 9.30am to 5.30pm (Mon to Fri); 10am to 4pm (Sat) and noon to 4pm (Sun). The farm is two-and-a-half miles outside Portarlington on the Edenderry road, and is signposted. While you're there, ask about growing your own. The Seagers say they can be cultivated in large patio pots.