Ab Fab lobster roll
The no-reservations, queues-out-the-door Burger & Lobster chain has infiltrated the glossy Fifth Floor at Harvey Nichols in Knightsbridge, and not to be outdone, the Dundrum, Dublin 14 branch is opening a branch of the Donnybrook restaurant, Rock Lobster. The "cocktails, fish and steakhouse" menu will be available in Dundrum from early next month and the 100-seat restaurant and cocktail bar is being refurbished to reflect the move. Owner Niall Sabongi has sourced a good supply of lobster at reasonable prices, which is why you'll be able to tuck into a lobster roll or a split grilled lobster, with fries and salad, for a very reasonable €20.

Shop Cork
You'll find lots of things to make your Christmas easier and perhaps more stylish at the Ballyvolane House in Castlelyons, Co Cork Antiques and Christmas Bazaar on the weekend of December 7th and 8th. There will be cookery, cocktail-making and floral decorating demonstrations, as well as stalls selling all sorts of goodies. House chef Teena Mahon is opening up her kitchen larder to sell Christmas puddings, mince pies, jams and chutneys, spiced nuts and elderflower and blackcurrant cordials. Host Justin Green will be mixing hedgerow martinis and eggnog, and there will be a tea room open in the barn for refreshments. See ballyvolanehouse.ie

The art of chocolate
Irish-born chocolatier Gerard Coleman has opened his first concession outside the UK in Brown Thomas, Dublin. Coleman has been interested for several years in opening a Dublin shop to add to his Artisan du Chocolate boutiques in Notting Hill and Chelsea and Selfridges concessions, but the right retail until just wasn't available. He has opted for a presence on Level 3 of the Dublin store, where his full range of couture filled chocolates and seasonal products is now on sale.

Food & Wine shows
Don't forget to bring a shopping basket to the Food&Wine Magazine Christmas show at the RDS in Dublin 4 this weekend, where you will be able to watch demos by Ross Lewis, Derry Clarke, Donal Skehan, Catherine Fulvio and talk baking with Bake-Off judges Biddy White Lennon and Paul Kelly, as well as stock up at the Artisan Food Village. If you can't make it to the RDS this weekend, put the National Crafts & Design Fair, at the same venue, on December 4th-8th, in your diary as the food offering there has grown to become one of the biggest of the year.