BITESIZE by Mary-Claire Digby.
How do you like yours - crumbled over a crisp salad, pressed between two slices of good bread, with a smear of brown sauce, or sitting alongside a brace of soft poached eggs? Where would we be without bacon, a great convenience food that is as versatile as it is tasty? The people who make Denny rashers are offering a holiday worth €10,000 to the person who best describes how they indulge their rasher cravings. Log on to www.rashercravings.ie to post a photo of your favourite bacon dish, or send it by MMS to 083-3333200, and your holiday plans could be in the bag. Entries close May 31st. The winner will be chosen from the top 10 most voted for entries, so you'll need to canvas support for your creation.
WEBWATCH
www.epicurious.com
This US-based website is "for people who love to eat", and the food and wine dictionaries it contains are very useful when it comes to deciphering its featured recipes. So sunchokes are Jerusalem artichokes - who would have guessed.
Back to school at Cooks Academy
Even the most competent cook can suffer from lack of inspiration, and doing an advanced cookery class or course is a good way to get the creative juices flowing again, as well as offering an opportunity to learn from other talented cooks. Cooks Academy in Dún Laoghaire, Co Dublin (above left) has added a five-day Intermediate course to its schedule to fill this gap in the market. The Intermediate course, which follows on from the Foundation course, runs from 10am to 4pm Monday to Friday and costs €650. As well as perfecting advanced skills and techniques, you'll leave with a useful folder of recipes and menu suggestions, and a sneak preview of the new Cooks Academy cookery book, due out in September. To be in with a chance of winning a place on an Intermediate course this summer, answer the following question.
How many course categories are offered on Cooks Academy's website?
(See www.cooksacademy.comand visit the Courses page.) Answers by e-mail to info@cooksacademy.comor by post to Cooks Academy, 2 Charlemont Terrace, Crofton Road, Dún Laoghaire, Co Dublin. Entries close on May 23rd.