Hot tip

Youghal Through the Ages: There is an Elizabethan Market at Barry's Lane today from 10am to 3pm with street entertainment.

An Elizabethan Banquet will be held tonight at the Walter Raleigh Hotel, as part of the programme. Tel [phone] to book. Mulled wine reception, five-course Elizabethan-style banquet, music and dancing. Internet: www.walterraleigh.com or www.youghalchamber.ie

Congratulations to Denis Cotter of Café Paradiso on winning Chef of the Year in Ireland 2005 - awarded by Food and Wine Magazine, and to Myrtle Allen of Ballymaloe House on winning the Hall of Fame Award, also from Food and Wine Magazine.

Midleton Farmers Market - today Saturday, October 1, Gene Cunningham, who sharpens knives, will attend, so bring along your kitchen knives if they need sharpening.

Good Things Café and Cookery School, Durrus, West Cork. Autumn programme includes one-week and weekend courses in the restaurant with Carmel Somers, with opportunities to go out with fishermen, see cheese being made and so on. Contact Carmel Somers on 027-61426 or visit www.thegoodthingscafe.com

Association of Craft Butchers of Ireland (ACBI) recognises the benefits of continued training for craft butchers. A recent introduction is an E-learning course in Customer Service Skills - an eight-hour course delivered online which can be done at home. A new FETAC accredited Certificate in Butchering will be launched in its pilot phase this autumn. Email: [e-mail]; Web: www.craftbutchers.ie; Tel [phone]

Congratulations to the BradyFamily for winning the Gold Award at 2005 Great Taste Awards in London's Olympia recently for their Traditional Baked and Glazed Irish Ham.