Joe McNamee visits Clonakilty Chocolate for a seven-course chocolate-themed dinner.

Finding good Irish-made gifts under €20 for the page today was easy. 

The Menu is readying himself for the Taste of West Cork Cocktail Party (August 21) in the glorious Glebe Gardens, in Baltimore, West Cork, considering it an early taster for the wonderful Taste of West Cork Food Festival. 

The Menu is very honoured to be joining the renowned food writer Lilly Higgins, Bakestone chef/proprietor Ali Honour and Iyer’s Café chef/proprietor, Gautham Iyer, to deliver an exclusive multi-course cooking demo, one course apiece (June 27), in the Brennan’s Cookery School, in Cork, with a healthy sample of each dish for all in the audience.

From the starter to the main course to dessert, wine columnist Leslie Williams serves up some must-have holiday drinks.

Do check out these hampers: Bandon-based Urru (www.urru.ie) and the magical Diva Boutique Bakery (www.divaboutiquebakery.com) has an online pop-up Christmas food shop;

The Menu is buckling up and donning his super-elasticated, eating shorts for one of the true culinary heavyweight events — the 6th Savour Kilkenny Food Festival (Oct 25-29).

WHETHER you’ve a late change of plan or unexpected extra guests, you can still put together a cracking wine list for Christmas dinner if you get moving early today.

HERE’s a particularly good example of the top-class fun and great value offered by winemaker dinners.