Hot tip

* LOOK out for fresh new season asparagus at your local farmers’ market. Check out www.irelandmarkets.com — this site will give you details of the farmers’ market closest to you. It also lists country markets in your area.

Anyone setting up new markets should also contact the site for a wealth of advice and information.

* Visit the seven new Artist Workshops at Stephen Pearce Gallery in Shanagarry, east Cork. This is a facility designed to support individual or small groups of artists in developing their art and craft, which will be available for sale in the workshops and includes paintings, furnishings, textiles, jewellery, spices, pottery, etc. The project has been part-funded by East Cork Area Development, under the rural development scheme.

* Great Taste Awards: Last week Bord Bia hosted a Speciality Food Forum for 150 leading buyers from Britain, Ireland and Continental Europe with a combined purchasing power of almost €8 billion. To coincide with the event, Britain’s Guild of Fine Food Retailers brought the Irish element of the Great Taste Awards to Ireland for the first time. Congratulations to Myrtle Allen who was presented with the inaugural lifetime achievement award by the Taste Council, for her pioneering work in promoting Irish food and cooking.