Another year, another yard of baling twine to hoist up The Menu’s trousers for he once again put in sterling work on behalf of his beloved readers roaming the length and breadth of the land, eating and drinking all the way.

The Menu has been getting great pleasure this week from a baker’s cookbook, even successfully attempting a heretical substitution of buttermilk with red wine vinegar in his soda bread — and the roof didn’t fall in! — so will be taking to the high seas once more in search of sustenance.