Hot tip

Fingal Gets Gold: Congratulations to Fingal Ferguson of Gubbeen Farmhouse Products Ltd. on winning a gold medal at the Great Taste Awards 2007 for his delicious chorizo sausage. www.gubbeen.co.

* Tullamore Show: Sunday, August 12. A terrific show with finals of many of show competitions from around the country, including final of the search for The Best Market in Ireland in conjunction with Easy Food Magazine. Judge Myrtle Allen.

* Vanilla Venture Ireland is a food import company specialising in the sourcing and provision of fine foods from around the world, including vanilla, spices and aromatics, cheese, Wagyu beef, Iberican pork, chocolate, pulses, dried fruit, nuts and seeds. See www.vanillaventure.ie. Also available at Naas Farmers Market every Saturday from 10-3pm beside the Storehouse Restaurant . Tel [phone] or 087-2442066 or [e-mail]

* Celebration of the Mackerel: Slow Food Event is on Friday, August 10 at 7.30pm at Parkswood Country House overlooking Waterford Harbour in Passage East. Informal dinner. Booking essential. Email [e-mail] or tel [phone]. www.parkswood.com

* Other places to visit and things to see in Kilkenny/Waterford/Wexford area: Lavistown House, Co Kilkenny. Web: www.lavistown.ie [e-mail] Copper-Coast Bistro in Annestown, Co Waterford. Web: www.coppercoastgeopark.com Wexford Organic Centre, Cushinstown, New Ross.Web: www.wexfordorganiccentre.ie or contact manager Pat Roche.