Soup has been part of the Irish cooking tradition for generations. A great all-rounder, soup can be served hot and steaming on a cold winter's day or chilled and refreshing in a summer brunch; as a light starter to dinner party or a meal in itself. This selection of mouth-watering and unusual soups from Ireland -- including Wild Garlic and Potato, Cream of Wild Salmon, Maire Rua soup made from fresh beetroot, Patriot Soup, Pea and Ham, Roast Plum and red cabbage -- are nutritious, delicious and easy to make. Serve with traditional, crunchy Irish brown bread, and wait for the compliments to pour in! Interesting morsels of information on associated Irish folklore and tradition enhance the recipes.

The school play was Noah's Ark and Emma wanted to be a dog. But the teacher said she was to be a penguin. A penguin! Emma was not pleased. But being a penguin turned out to be good fun, really. Panda 38

Tom Doorley introduces us to his life and loves. Passionate about food, wine and gardening, Tom interweaves stories of his childhood, adolescence and distinguished career as food and wine writer. A celebrated food and wine critic, a restaurant reviewer and latterly a radio and television presenter, Tom looks back over a career filled with earth(l)y delights and consuming passions, reliving the funny incidents and culinary disasters, while also uncorking hard-learned wisdom on the growing and consuming of food, on gardening and environmental matters, on wine and on a variety of other topics close to his heart.