WHILE many relish the intimacy of the tiny little room on North Street that is the original Kalbos daytime restaurant/cafe, especially in the tumbleweed months of darkest winter, a fine culinary comrade —who adores Kalbos II, a delightful courtyard café at nearby Uillinn Arts Centre — bemoans the lack of privacy when it comes to a sotto voce natter, a space so small even telepathy might be vulnerable to eavesdropping, a crucial consideration in a country town.

A New York restaurant has banned tipping. Instead, it’ll raise prices and the cash will go to the staff. So what do Irish eateries make of it all? And do we even have a tipping culture here? Joe McNamee settles the bill.

The new Kilkenny Cookery School has just been opened by wife-and-husband chef team, Mary and Neil McEvoy.