Bear in mind the continuing series of classes run by Darina Allen at the Ballymaloe cookery school, in Shanagarry, Co Cork.
New this year is a one-day course on pasta sauces, one of those culinary areas where people frequently misunderstand the vital relationship between pasta and sauce which is needed to make a dish a success. So, there will be a chance to see how to do such classics as penne arrabiatta or pappardelle with chicken livers and sage, and new dishes such as orzo with courgettes and black olives, and spaghetti with chilli, shrimo and flat leaf parsley. Variations on macaroni cheese are also promised, and this is a course from which many cooks will benefit.
Later in the month, the guest chef cooking for three days is Californian John Ash, one of the leaders of the new Californian cuisine, while August sees a new series of cookery classes for children, aimed at 10- to 16-year-olds who want to know how to cook spicy chicken wings (everyone wants to know how to cook spicy chicken wings!), tortilla chips, pizzas and pancakes. For a copy of the Ballymaloe brochure, tel: 021-646785, or let your children access them on the Web at www.ballymaloe-cookery- school.ie