Darina Allen shares gift inspiration and festive recipes in the nick of time for Christmas

"Something that will save them time, something they might not get around to making themselves, something they will really enjoy and that will remind them of you when they eat or drink it."

"How about a leek mousse? Leeks are at their best just now, I’ve been digging the smaller ones from the vegetable garden, I can’t bear to waste a scrap."

"Here in Ireland, despite the cost of living crisis, an increasing number of people are connecting the food they eat to the health of the family."

November 17 is National Homemade Bread Day, so let’s celebrate passing on the skills to all the family by making some crusty loaves of bread. 

'I can’t exactly take the higher moral ground because I hadn’t been either, and it has to be said, the climate is much more agreeable and certainly less sizzling than many exotic-sounding places in summer'

Discovering croquettes in Cardiff and bread in Bristol

All round the country, shop windows are packed with tempting scary masks, ghoulish costumes and witches hats for Halloween parties and trick-or-treat forays around the neighbourhood.

"This week, a celebration of the return of the native Irish Oyster, considered by chefs and aficionados to be the most exquisitely deliciously briny oyster."

As ever, it was an opportunity to check out the London restaurant scene - including Dalla's frittatinas