TV chef Rachel Allen will be doing an outdoor cookery demo at Dundrum Town Centre today. Restaurants in the centre will be staging tasting sessions, too, as part of the Flavour of Dundrum promotion, which runs from noon to 5pm.
• Statues & Stories is a terrific pocket guide to all the good, bad and ugly monuments in Dublin, documented by Muriel Bolger, with photographs by Susan Waine and drawings by Alwyn Gillespie. It's full of surprises, and perfect for the glove compartment. Published by Ashfield Press, €9.95.
PEACHY NEW COOKIE SHOP
KC Peaches is a new shop on Pearse Street, near Grand Canal Quay, Dublin 2, serving up tasty gourmet sandwiches and genuine North American cookies. Opened by Seattle native Katie Cantwell, who thought Dublin needed an upmarket US-style eaterie, KC Peaches is open from early till eight, Monday to Saturday. Call 01-6770333 for information and deliveries. Davin O'Dwyer
DREAM DATES
Romantic Weddings and Honeymoons, the latest release from the Georgina Campbell's Ireland series, is bursting with information, photographs, facts and figures which could take the headache out of planning those most important occasions. Castles, country houses, city hotels and chic private rentals - they're all here, alongside useful details such as location information, venue size, price range, facilities and services. From bookshops, €20. Marie-Claire Digby
CAT THAT GOT THE CREAM
As part of its 80th anniversary celebrations, the Irish ice cream company, HB, has commissioned a commemorative book, The Story of HB, by former Irish Times journalist Kieran Fagan, and Paul Mulhern, who describes himself as a "HB lifer" (now retired). Part fascinating social history, part unabashed sales pitch, The Story of HB is at its most readable in the final pages, in which a variety of Irish personalities relate their personal memories of this most Irish of ice cream brands. Taoiseach Bertie Ahern, former Tánaiste Dick Spring, broadcaster Joe Duffy, playwright Bernard Farrell, and writer Maeve Binchy are among those who contribute their favourite HB moments. €29.50 from www.unilever.ie and selected bookshops. Marie-Claire Digby
BIKINI BLISS
For those who believe it's most important to look your best when you are wearing the least, cast your eyes upon Thames & Hudson's new Bikini Book, sure to give you a silly season laugh and even kickstart a summer diet. Tons of wonderful photographs, until you get to the page with Arnold Schwarzenegger at the height of his body building days. The Bikini Book, by Kelly Killoren Bensimon, costs £19.95.
GET BACK TO BASICS
Forget digital perfection. Dominic Turner has created an exhibition of photographs using plastic-lens toy cameras made by The Great Wall Plastic Factory in Hong Kong. His large-format colour prints aim to recreate memories rather than to precisely represent moments. With no light meter, no focus control and a viewfinder frankly more distracting than helpful, it's not as easy as it may sound as no two toy cameras are the same. "Each has its own character and often needs sophisticated modification with Sellotape, cardboard and glue to work at all," he says.
Turner's work has been exhibited at the Kilkenny Arts Festival, in Detroit and Tokyo. Plastography is on view at the Front Lounge in Parliament Street, Dublin 2, from next Wednesday until July 3rd. See www.dominicturnerphotography.com. Patsey Murphy
THE €20,000 SANDWICH
The prospect of winning a cash prize of €20,000 should consign boring ham sangers on pappy white pan to the bin for a while, as the country's creative-types compete to design the winner of the Hellmann's Great Irish Sandwich challenge. Drumming up publicity for the competition, chef Johnny Cooke attempted to make Ireland's most expensive sandwich - an extravagant fried abalone on ciabatta concoction - but it wasn't quite to the taste of celebrity Kerry Katona, who launched the contest in Dublin, and who revealed that her favourite is white bread with chicken and mayo. The sandwich recipes will be judged by a panel of four food experts before the final four go to a public vote. Enter on www.willyoursandwichmakeit.ie, or pick up an entry form in shops and supermarkets nationwide. Marie-Claire Digby
FLIM BUFF FESTIVAL
Temple Bar has become a focal point for the dedicated film buff, with Filmbase, the Irish Film Institute and frequent screenings at Meeting House Square. And now it's about to get even better, because the inaugural Temple Bar Film Festival kicks off this Tuesday. Taking place in various venues (even the local pubs) and running until Friday, it aims to showcase low-budget Irish films such as zombie flick Dead Meat and the award-winning short, Jellybaby. Tickets and membership are available from Filmbase, Curved Street, temple Bar, Dublin 2. More details: www.filmbase.ie or call 01-6796716. Eimear McKeith
TAKE SOME FRENCH LEAVE
Nell Stewart-Liberty, former editor of Social & Personal magazine, is taking guests at her home, Château Soussac, in Entre-Deux-Mers. The house is an hour from Bordeaux (direct flights from Dublin, airport transfers available) and half an hour from the wine village of St Emilion. "Guests can enjoy a choice of five double/twin bedrooms, all en-suite and all with panoramic views over the gardens and vineyards." And when guests are not sleeping, they can busy themselves learning about French cooking and wine.
Stewart-Liberty is also offering the first vintage of Château Soussac en primeur, though it is not even made yet - 2006 will be the first vintage. A barrel (300 bottles) is on offer at €4,500. "Château Soussac will retail at €25 a bottle. Buying a barrel is a saving of €10 per bottle. Your barrel of Château Soussac will be bottled at the château using your personalised wine labels." Nell Stewart-Liberty, Château Soussac, 33790 Soussac, Gironde, France, (00-33-556-613154); email: nellsl@eircom.net. Joe Breen
CARTOON STRIP
The brand new Blackbird Gallery in Kilkenny is staging an exhibition of international satirical and political cartoons and caricatures this weekend, during the Cat Laughs festival. The gallery is run by Roger O'Reilly, whose illustrations have graced these pages, and he is keen to revive the art of printed satire. Included is a host of well known and sometimes infamous cartoonists: Tom Mathews, Graham Keyes, Tom Halliday, Jim Cogan, Martyn Turner, Dave Rooney, Hunt Emerson, Dave Coverly, aka Speedbump, Steve Best, John Berkeley and Martin Honeysett. He is also supporting local and emerging Irish artists. Blackbird Gallery, 1 St Kieran Street, Kilkenny. Patsey Murphy