With talk of ‘back to school’ in the air it is time to make the most of what remains of the summer.

Not since the heady days of 1846-7 when El Batallón de los San Patricios (The St Patrick’s Battalion) assembled south of the border to take up arms in the Mexican-American War, has your regular Gael displayed such an enthusiasm for things Mexican.

Believing attendance at an Irish food festival is a state of grace any God-fearing Gael should aspire to on a near daily basis.

TRAVELLING a long distance for a family weekend break runs contrary to logic.

Even if you don’t know your radishes from your rhubarb, there is something for all the family at the first Ballymaloe Garden Festival which takes place this weekend at the East Cork gardens located around Ballymaloe House and Ballymaloe Cookery School.

The recipe for the continuing success of Darina Allen’s Ballymaloe Cookery School “is hard work and to keep at it”.

THIS WEEK we feature lots and lots of salads, just what we all yearn for during this unexpected spell of beautiful weather. Recently chef and cookery teacher Barny Haughton from Bristol came to Ballymaloe Cookery School to do a whole morning on salads.

THE country’s newest Educate Together national school is on track to open next month after taking dozens of enrolments at the weekend for up to 2012.

Old Time Threshing at Ballymaloe Cookery School in association with Slow Food on September 9.

CORK had the right mix of ingredients to sweep the boards at a major food marketing awards ceremony yesterday.

Muck and Merlot - Tom Doorley is one of Ireland’s best known commentators on food and wine.

POLITICIANS yesterday called for mandatory jail sentences for anyone caught with child pornography as the storm of protest grew over the sentencing of celebrity chef Tim Allen.