Hot tip

Cookery Classes at Snugboro 2008: Rory O’Connell teaches intensive one-day classes at his home near Ballycotton, Co Cork. Private classes or workshops for groups or individuals can be organised! — [e-mail]; tel: [phone].

* For anyone who wants to grow organically, Bob Flowerdew provides the answers in an accessible way in his new book Going Organic, published by Kyle Cathie. His commonsense, practical approach and easy-to-read style has endeared him to gardeners for over 20 years. He takes the readers through basic gardening techniques, common pitfalls, pest and disease problems and companion planting.

* The organisers of Slow Food Limerick and& Region are planning to offer monthly Slow Food events in 2008, starting this month with Slow Food for Babies. This will explore the Slow Food options available to young babies and toddlers, with a strong focus on local, fresh produce. How to best answer the nutritional requirements of babies and toddlers and what effect food can have on a child’s development will be the central issues looked at. The speakers are Dr Moya Stout, psychologist and Julie Dargan, nutritionist.