The summer festival season is already under way with more of the big guns readying themselves in the weeks ahead.

I recently used an old copy of Georgio Locatelli’s Made in Sicily and cooked the most delicious pasta dish and some pork meatballs.

Retail sales of companies supported by the Food Academy programme are expected to top €25m in 2016, it was announced yesterday.

1 Food Forum

This week’s online and in the shops.

The Menu enjoyed a splendid repast, cooked by some of Ireland’s finest chefs, including Eurotoque Ireland General Commissioner, Graham Neville, of Dublin’s Restaurant 41, at Ballymaloe House this week. 

They are both workaholics, have two children each and, spookily, turned vegetarian on the same day even though they were on opposite ends of the planet.

Perfect picnic

Ten thousand people are expected to attend a two-day food forum which will showcase cooking demonstrations as well as provide a platform to promote offerings from Cork and Kerry-based producers.

They look after us all year — so where do Ireland’s top hoteliers take time out? Tony Clayton-Lea talks holidays of a lifetime with Francis Brennan, Kevin Dundon and more.

The menu would think nothing saddling up Neidín and travelling to Cavan and back for a taste of Silke Cropp’s Corleggy Cheese alone but throw in the Taste of Cavan 2015 food festival (Aug 7-8) and he’d be near tempted to shoulder the bould Neidín himself.

With a massive menu on offer, more than 5,000 people passed through Cork City Hall yesterday for the Cork/Kerry Food Forum with some of the region’s artisan food producers sharing their culinary delights.

One of Myrtle Allen’s lesser-hymned but no less commendable achievements is her role in co-founding Euro-Toques, in 1986, the European chefs organisation dedicated to guiding chefs in preserving traditional culinary cultures and in the value of using the very best of local, seasonal produce. 

Cork and Kerry Food Forum returns next month to celebrate the culinary spirit of both counties.

The founder of an animal rescue centre fears the shelter will be forced to close due to mounting costs and debts.

Though it had been some time, at least a couple of Ice Ages, since The Menu had last trod barefoot through the fields to school, several years ago he returned to the groves of Academe.

Two season wellies from PuddleDucks come in three fun designs — Cheeky Crocodile, Love Heart and Lucky Duck. 

It’s billed as one of the social events of the year in Cork — and one of the worthiest causes.

The Menu is delighted to hear the revised format for the San Pellegrino Young Chef 2015 means it is now a truly global competition open to some of the aforementioned young gustatory gaels. 

IFEST, the first major celebration of Irish culture and food was held in Boston recently. 

It is the picture that tells a thousand words. The relief and anguish is written all over his face as he clutches his tiny son to his chest.

Up to 560 jobs will be created in Cork and Kerry following announcements by an outsourcing company and the food sector.

SEAWEED conjures up stories of a good day at the beach ruined by an encounter with slimy, smelly sea vegetation.

Take one celebrity chef, several local food producers, a handful of food start-ups, add a sprinkling of major retailers and the public to taste — and mix.

Summer in Ireland is festival season. Liz O’Brien picks some of the nation’s favourites — and reveals the people who work long and hard behind the scenes to make your summer happen.

The Menu loves chips and The Menu also loves Limerick.

My idea of misery is being in a room with a bank manager.

As Ireland’s Blue Book celebrates its 40th anniversary, Pól Ó Conghaile visits Dunbrody House to find out what it means, and takes, to become a member.

FOR ME it was a wonderful surprise that my latest book 30 Years at Ballymaloe won the Avonmore Cookbook of the Year award at the Bord Gáis Irish Book Awards — and it really was a surprise.

Halloween is around the corner and children will be bombarded with sugary treats.

Irish chefs Rachel Allen and Kevin Dundon have thrown their weight behind controversial comments by British chef Jamie Oliver, who said he found it “hard to talk about modern-day poverty” after seeing families live on cheap, processed food but splurge on top-of-the-range gadgets.

Highlights include John Creedon's retracing of Michael Collins's final day.

Craic, music and food mighty in Westport

Celebrity TV chef Kevin Dundon is cooking a storm, with his food and hotel business on course to record more than a five-fold increase in profits to €260,000 this year.

The Menu is buckling up and donning his super-elasticated, eating shorts for one of the true culinary heavyweight events — the 6th Savour Kilkenny Food Festival (Oct 25-29).

Enda Kenny said he was disappointed about Róisín Shortall at the National Ploughing Championships and he meant it — where was that ungrateful woman when he needed her?

SMART EATING: Kevin Dundon says the secret of good eating is to eat in season and to eat in moderation.