Compiled by MARIE-CLAIRE DIGBY

Chapter One cleaned up at the Food Wine magazine Maison Louis Latour Restaurant of the Year awards in Dublin’s Convention Centre last Sunday, staking claim to six titles including restaurant of the year; chef of the year for Ross Lewis; best sommelier Ed Jolliffe, and best service, for which Declan Maxwell (left) and Martin Corbett (right), with Jolliffe in the centre of the photograph, can take credit. Lewis is not in the celebratory line-up as he had to leave early due to filming commitments.

The buzz

Rachel Unplugged @RachUnplugged: Rachel’s Organics has been bought out by Nestle. There is nothing left in the world for the ethical consumer *starves to death*

Mike Corcoran @Pitmastermick: Im smoking streaky bacon with applewood...it makes the tastiest burgers in Ireland

Andy Lynes @AndyLynes: Oh look, theyve named a restaurant after my strategy for an easy life @duckandwaffle

Party pad that comes with a private chef

This party space and cookery studio on Dublin's Drury Street is the new base of caterer and TV chef Andrew Rudd, who will be using it for private dining events, small weddings and cookery demonstrations. In order to keep costs down, Rudd has a BYO policy, and has secured a 10 per cent discount for his clients at The Corkscrew Wine Merchants on Chatham Street. The cookery classes are good value too, at €65 for a one-hour demo, followed by a three-course meal with a glass of wine. Upcoming demos include Thai food (September 6th), Italian (September 28th), French (October 5th and 12th) and Thai and Vietnamese (November 2nd). The room can also be booked for private gatherings – numbers up to 100 – in which case you get to pick the type of cuisine. See andrewrudd.ie.

Carlow calling

Caterer and cake queen Eunice Power, whose latest creation, a beetroot and blackcurrant sponge, we will be sharing with you soon, heads the line-up of cookery demonstrators at Taste of Carlow, which brings food and craft people to the town’s Riverside Promenade tomorrow (1-6pm)

Lobster with a Thai twist

It's been the summer of lobster deals, not just in Ireland but worldwide, with prices in Maine, the lobster fishing capital of the US, reaching a 30-year low this month. However the shellfish on offer during Dublin Thai restaurant Saba's two-week lobsterfest is Irish in origin, coming from the sea around Inisboffin, while the oysters that also feature on the menu are from Carlingford. Chef Tao Trakoolwattana has created eight Thai seafood dishes specially for the promotion, the stand-outs of which are a seared lobster tail starter with pomelo and shredded toasted coconut, served on betel leaves (€14.95) – watch out for the potent bird's eye chillies in this one – and a whole chargrilled lobster (500-600g), served with rich, fragrant red curry "chuchi" sauce and jasmine rice (€25.95). Saba's lobster fest begins next Saturday and runs until September 15th. Pictured above is Saba chef Chuchat Usahakanon. See Sabadublin.com