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.

Renowned TV chef, cook and cookbook author whose latest book is Rachel’s Everyday Kitchen.

NOW that I am a grandmother with seven precious grandchildren, I am more aware of the importance of passing on some life skills to the next generation. They all live within 15 minutes of us so we are fortunate to see them almost every day.

THE highlight of this past week was the visit of the founder of Slow Food International, Carlo Petrini, to Ireland. This organisation could be described as the Greenpeace of gastronomy — the antidote to fast food culture.