The ever-popular Ursula Ferrigno, who packed out her last demonstrations at the Carlingford Cookery School, in Co Louth, returns next month with two demonstrations, entitled "Springtime in Italy", on March 28th and 29th. Ferrigno is followed at the school a month later by Paul and Jeanne Rankin, who will give masterclasses on Friday, April 24th and Saturday, 25th.
All the Carlingford courses will this year be twinned with wine tastings, hosted by Winemark, on March 29th and by Oddbins on April 25th. Full details of prices for the courses from Paul or Cairlinn Carroll on 042-73682.
The new year at the Ballymaloe cookery school will feature the talents of cult Cork city chef Seamus O'Connell, of The Ivory Tower restaurant. No other cook has such a firm grasp of as many ethnic styles as O'Connell, whose Japanese cookery is every bit as assured and creative as his Mexican cookery, so expect fabulous sushi, duck with sherry, home-smoked salmon, and try to persuade him to do his smoked chicken chimichanga.
Other courses on the wide-ranging Ballymaloe curriculum include Tim Allen's breadmaking course, the deli course, the buffet course and weekend entertaining, and there are courses on Thai, Malaysian and Californian cooking, as well as the 12week certificate course. This year should also see the opening of the garden cafe and shop. For a Ballymaloe school brochure, call 021-646785, fax: 021-646909.