THE recent Web Summit in the RDS in Dublin brought to Ireland by brilliant young entrepreneur Paddy Cosgrave blew people out of the water.

If by any chance you have a few book tokens left over from Christmas presents, I’ve got some brilliant suggestions for worthwhile cookbooks to track down. For the growing number of cake-makers, Annie Bells Baking Bible published by Kyle books is a real gem. Recipes are triple tested so really work which can’t be said for every book.

When 69-year-old Francis Kennedy stepped onto flight EI105 from Dublin to New York last Friday it was the Co Tipperary man’s first time on a plane.

STEVIE PARLE burst onto the London food scene in 2009 with his restaurant Dock Kitchen.

THE River Café on the edge of the Thames in Hammersmith was started as a staff canteen for architect Richard Rodgers and his team in 1985. His wife Ruthie and her friend Rose Gray loved to cook and had fun reproducing the Italian food they enjoyed on holiday in Tuscany and Florence.

A FEW months ago I wrote about a new young chef called Stevie Parle who is making waves on the London food scene.

AT LAST, restaurants are reporting an increased appetite for eating out; perhaps those green shoots really are sprouting. I’ve had several requests from readers for an update on the London food scene. Lots of good things are happening over there – despite the cautious atmosphere, many young people are “chomping at the bit” to open cafes, restaurants and gastro pubs.

The River Café team demonstrated this at Sarah’s cookery school some years ago and she’s made it many times during the summer ever since — perfect when the garden is full of beans and tomatoes.

The River Café team demonstrated this at Sarah’s cookery school some years ago and she’s made it many times during the summer ever since — perfect when the garden is full of beans and tomatoes.

THERE’S fashion in food just like everything else. Foodies are always intrigued by the latest trends on the gastronomic circuit.

Marathon world record holder Paula Radcliffe was today awarded another honour for her growing collection – being named in the new edition of Britain's Who’s Who.