We must develop a reputation for the quality of our produce but also offer tourists the opportunity to be actively involved in the food experience, says Samantha Morris

A new year and time for The Menu to don his Gypsy Rose outfit to serve up some predictions for 2013. The Menu enjoyed some memorable 2012 events: Dungarvan Food Festival, The Irish Examiner Food Festival, International Slow Food at Terra Madre in Turin and Theatre of Food at the Electric Picnic and Liss Ard Music Festival. Equally, he was heartbroken to miss Savour Kilkenny Festival and Dingle Food Festival — that will be rectified in 2013.! But the inaugural Kenmare Food Carnival was a bit special, not as multi-faceted as the aforementioned but as one of the original culinary outposts in the dark pre-food days in Ireland, KFC has all makings of a future top food attraction. www.kenmarefoodcarnival.com

NEWLY-crowned Masterchef Ireland champion Mary Carney will turn the tables on her counterparts when she appears at the Savour Kilkenny Food Festival over the October bank holiday weekend.

SHOPPERS could add more than €1 billion to the economy by switching a quarter of their weekly grocery spend from imported to Irish food.