Hot tip

Every Saturday during November there is a ‘Fruit Clinic’ from 11am to 4pm at the Country Choice Shop where you can discuss anything about raisins, sultanas and currants. For people baking their first Christmas cake take your list for the best guidance and advice about exact quantities of fruit. www.countrychoice.ie

Innovative Irish food company, Cully & Sully has become the first Irish company to win the overall award at the prestigious Sial d’Or world finals in Paris. Cully & Sully not only won the chilled non-dairy category for their soup range but they were presented with the overall global Sial D’Or award, beating off competition from over 30 countries. www.cullyandsully.com

* The Kitchen in the Castle Cookery School is opening to the public on November 22. The cookery school is situated in the recently renovated Georgian kitchen in Howth Castle, the family home of the St. Lawrence family for over 800 years. Christine and Edwina St Lawrence, co-founders of the school, have a passion for food. www.thekitceninthecastle.com