BEST cafe in Clare? Cosiest B&B in Belfast? Hippest hotel in Dublin?

Georgina Campbell has all the answers in her unparalled guidebook, Ireland, The Guide 2007.

Leaving no stone unturned in her quest for great food and hospitality excellence, this independent guide, now in its ninth edition, is essential reading before planning a weekend away or heading out for dinner. Honest, accurate and informative, this year's guide features 150 new entries, signalling everincreasing standards across the whole country. Essential kit for any food lover.

It costs 20, from all good bookshops and online at www. ireland-guide. com (free P&P) Mother goose SERIOUS chefs use goose fat for making the best roast potatoes imaginable.

For those of us short of a few geese, 'Good Taste' has discovered Epicure's jar of pure goose fat for an affordable 4.75. Brilliantly flavoursome and so handy to use, it's our new storecupboard essential. 320g, from Tesco Merrion, Superquinn Blackrock and Superquinn Swords.

Cup of love FANCY a coffee with George Clooney, Coldplay or maybe Claudia Schiffer? While 21st Century Leaders can't help you get a date, they can help you secure a limited-edition coffee mug designed by your favourite celebrity. The unique charity project has gathered artworks from leaders in all fields; royalty, film, music, sports, literature etc, with each artwork representing a symbol of hope.

These artworks are then used to create products, (everything from charity wristbands to tableware and clothing) released on the 21CL label.

All products are manufactured under fair working conditions and are sold to raise funds for charitable causes chosen by each contributing leader. Each mug is presented in a gift box with a photograph of your celebrity/artist of your choice and a personal message from them. A great ethical Christmas gift, 9.99 each, from www. whateverittakes. org FANCY a coffee with George Clooney, Coldplay or maybe Claudia Schiffer? While 21st Century Leaders can't help you get a date, they can help you secure a limited-edition coffee mug designed by your favourite celebrity. The unique charity project has gathered artworks from leaders in all fields; royalty, film, music, sports, literature etc, with each artwork representing a symbol of hope.

These artworks are then used to create products, (everything from charity wristbands to tableware and clothing) released on the 21CL label.

All products are manufactured under fair working conditions and are sold to raise funds for charitable causes chosen by each contributing leader. Each mug is presented in a gift box with a photograph of your celebrity/artist of your choice and a personal message from them. A great ethical Christmas gift, 9.99 each, from www. whateverittakes. org Say fromage ASa serious cheese addict, I love returning home from the cheesemongers with a wedge of something soft and smelly that I've never tried before. If you can relate to this cheese obsession you'll enjoy the excellent French Cheeses from Dorling Kindersley's awardwinning Eyewitness Companions.

Cataloguing 350 fromages, from Alsace to Vacluse, you'll find illustrations, detailed characteristics of each cheese and information on how they are made. With clear tips on selecting, storing and serving everything from from the big cheeses (sorry! ) to littleknown regional specialities, it's like having your cheesemonger on speed dial. Price: 19, from all good bookshops.

COOKBOOK WATCH THE PRAWN COCKTAIL YEARS, SIMON HOPKINSON AND LINDSEY BAREHAM Why should I buy it?

Years of food apathy and restricted access to top ingredients helped turn an abundance of classic recipes into retro disasters. But there's no need to relegate the likes of beef goulash, chicken Kiev, crepes Suzette or treacle tart to the annals of history, and this lovingly written book shows us why.

Taking us on a tour of post-war hotels, '60s' bistros and 'continental' restaurants, it aims to restore sophistication to those dishes that were once so loved.

Any drawbacks?

You may need to address your own culinary prejudices before embracing some of the recipes.

Signature recipes Chicken chasseur, beef Wellington, pavlova One to try Prawn Cocktail Serves 2 The heart of one large Little Gem lettuce, "nely shredded One spring onion, white part only, very "nely sliced One heaped tbsp cucumber, peeled, deseeded and "nely diced Four-five tbsp of (homemade) mayonnaise One tbsp tomato ketchup Two-three shakes of Tabasco One tsp cognac Tiny squeeze of lemon juice 200g cooked, whole, shell-on prawns, peeled (reserve two, unpeeled, for garnish) Paprika Divide the lettuce between two dishes, sprinkle over the spring onion and cucumber and pile the prawns loosely on top. Mix the mayonnaise, ketchup, Tabasco, cognac and lemon juice together. Spoon the sauce over the prawns and allow it to trickle between them. Dust sparingly with paprika and attach a small wedge of lemon.

The Prawn Cocktail Years, by Simon Hopkinson and Lindsey Bareham, is published by Penguin, 37