Looking for gift ideas for food lovers? Strap yourselves in for a Christmas shopping spree with The Menu.

MISSED BY ALL: The Menu was saddened to learn of the recent death of Biddy White Lennon, a fellow member of the Irish Guild of Food Writers, of which she was both a founder member and former chair.

We are a few weeks into the college year now and for many, it’s been a shock to the system, a moment of realisation when the penny drops that you are absolutely on your own — to get up on time, feed yourself, do your washing and the gizillion other little things we’ve become accustomed to others doing for us.

This year’s Macroom Food Festival (Sept 23-25) sets out under the thematic heading of ‘Blás na hÁite’, which is as it should be for the lovely Cork town and its glorious hinterland, heaving with some very fine producers, farmers, and growers, many of them great favourites of The Menu. 

Coachford Flower and Garden Club is having a talk on spring gardening on Wednesday, February 18, in Breathnach’s Courtyard Café. The guest speaker is DJ Murphy from Bandon Garden Centre.

Helen Dillon, the renowned plantswomen, writer, lecturer and broadcaster will give a lecture on gardening to the Cork Literary and Scientific Society on Thursday, January 29, at 8pm in the Crawford Art Gallery, Emmet Place. 

The poor old Menu can hardly sleep with excitement, praying this is the year he fights off sleep long enough to finally meet Santa — that, of course, and the humungous preparations for the Christmas dinner. 

Police in England are investigating whether an alleged victim of prolific sex offender Jimmy Savile has made a fraudulent compensation claim.

THIS time around, three Fine Gael candidates will have their names near the top of the ballot paper and not many would bet against two of them taking seats in Leinster House on March 9.

Everyone at O’Connell’s Restaurant in Ballsbridge in Dublin was celebrating last week; they have just been awarded The “Just Ask!” Georgina Campbell Restaurant of the Month Award for October 2009.

THE Farmers’ Market movement is coming of age – it’s now over 12 years since Myrtle Allen and I first set up our stalls in Cork’s Coal Quay side-by-side with fish smoker Frank Hederman, vegetable grower Caroline Robinson, Klaus and Hannah Balz with their beautiful bunches of fresh flowers and a couple of other brave souls.

DESPITE the hardship that many are enduring as the result of the economic meltdown, much good is emerging at grassroots level.

Grow your own Vegetables: Experienced growers Caroline Robinson and Rupert Hugh-Jones will talk about starting a garden, preparing the soil, making compost, sowing seeds, caring for plants and getting the most from polytunnels at the Crawford Art Gallery Café on Thursday, February 26, at 7.30pm, entrance €6 including tea or coffee.

Cork Free Choice Consumer Association: On February 28 at the Crawford Gallery Cafe you can learn how to grow your own fruit and nuts, when to plant, how to prune and care for apple and nut trees, raspberries, strawberries, etc. With Paul McCormick and Jacinta French of Woodkerne Nurseries, John Baker, Caroline Robinson and other experts. Admission, €6, including tea, coffee, etc.

INCREASED efforts are being made to encourage more of the country’s 135,000 farmers to consider going the organic route to meet consumer demands.

FOR a selection of noodles try Mr Bell’s stall in the English Market in Cork, the Asia Market at 18 Drury St and the Oriental Emporium at 25 South Great Georges St, both in Dublin 2.

IN his letter headlined ‘Suffering chickens not good for our health’ (Irish Examiner, November 30), Gerry Boland wrote of the plight of 50 billion chickens worldwide cramped up in windowless sheds and beset by disease.

Cookery demonstration by Darina Allen of Ballymaloe Cookery School, in aid of Tsunami Disaster Fund, at Garryvoe Hotel on Thursday, February 3, at 8pm.

Irish Society of Poultry Fanciers’ 18th Annual Show is at Gurteen College, Roscrea, Co Tipperary today. It is open to the public after judging at 12.30pm approx.

JOIN an organic box scheme and have a selection of fresh seasonal produce delivered to your home every week. Contact Organic Trust Ltd on 01 8530271,IOFGA on 0506 32563, or Demeter on 056 54214.