Discount Dining Card Bon Appétit Card joins forces with Restaurant Association of Ireland (RAI) to help Irish restaurants get more exposure nationally and internationally.

Improving business opportunities for Irish restaurants, Bon Appétit Card will also help locals benefit from great discounts at their favourite food hotspots.

Formed in 1970, RAI was created with the initial purpose of forming a strong lobby that would represent the industry at Government level on various issues from taxation to liquor licensing.

Thanks to the Association’s efforts in 1986, VAT was reduced from 25% to 10%.

Today RAI represents more than 600 members in fine dining, casual dining, ethnic, family, Coffee Shops, Hotels and Pub restaurants.

Launched last year, Bon Appétit Card has been delivering amazing discounts for the most beautiful restaurants in Europe and will now offer the same service to Irish pub, hotels and restaurants.

Granting its very lucky members an up to 50% off discount, this new club for food lovers gives international diners the key to explore different restaurants without the burden of overpriced bills or, even worse, embarrassing vouchers.

After joining forces with Emirate NBD bank and bringing the very best Middle East ‘cuisine’ on board, Bon Appétit Card will now focus on Ireland establishing a strong network of gourmets, opportunity chasers and business entrepreneurs.

Speaking about the launch, Peter Ayo Marpuri said:

“We started Bon Appétit Card because we wanted to create a recession proof system for both restaurants and consumers. Thanks to our discounts, locals and travels have the chance to be more loyal to their favourite restaurants or just explore new ones; with the result of restaurants being able to continue trading in this tough economic times.”

With over 800 affiliated restaurants and many discounts at theme parks, golf clubs, theatre shows, musicals and so much more, this exclusive organisation knows exactly how to make its members happy and, always, on trend.

Bon Appétit Card is an international club and a shining card accepted nationally and internationally. Once bought, you won’t have to buy anything else or print any other offers.

Mexican feasts, BBQ Pulled Pork, Indian Spices and Beer Crust Pizzas are all on the menu at the Cloughjordan House Cookery School next year.

The cookery school, based at the 400 year-old Cloughjordan House in North Tipperary, is unveiling the full programme of classes for 2014 today under the theme of ‘Feast for the Senses.’

A memorable gift idea for food lovers, the Head of the Cookery School, Sarah Baker, has teamed up members of the Tipperary Food Producers network, along with well-known food producers and food writers from around the country.

Announcing the line-up, Baker said: “Feast for the Senses is our most ambitious programme to date. We wanted to design a range of classes that would appeal to both food lovers and those with an interest in trying new recipes and flavours, all hosted by well-known and highly regarded food producers and experts.”

Once a month for the whole year, starting on January 25th, a half day class will be hosted using seasonal and locally-produced food which is mostly grown in the Cloughjordan farm and garden. The class includes a three course lunch and is being run in association with Glenisk yogurts.

Pat Whelan from James Whelan Butchers, winner of the ‘Online Champion’ award at the Bord Bia Food & Drink Awards, is offering a hands-on class on February 15th. The fifth-generation farmer and butcher will be preparing recipes from his latest book, giving advice around buying, preparing and cooking meat.

For barbeque lovers, Brendan O’ Connell, who is also known as ‘BBQ Joe’, will be sharing recipes for both meat eaters and vegetarians on April 5th.

Veronica Molloy, who has been making jams under the ‘Crossogue Preserves’ label since the 1960s, will be teaching the basics of jam, jelly and chutney making on June 14th. Meanwhile, Colleen O’ Hara will be sharing tips, ideas and recipes for fish and shellfish on September 6th.

The founder of the Irish Food Bloggers Association, Caroline Hennessy, will be showing guests how to properly taste, match and savour Irish craft beer on October 11th, with recipe ideas. On November 1st, Arun Kapil from the spice specialists, Green Saffron, will be hosting a class around how to grind, blend and cook with farm-fresh Indian spices. Lily Ramirez-Foran, the food blogger behind A Mexican Cook, will be demonstrating how to plan, prepare and cook a Mexican feast on November 29th.

Other culinary highlights in the 2014 programme include a ‘Cooking for Communion and Conformation Parties’ on March 1st, ‘Nutrition for Babies and Toddlers’ class on May 24th and a Christmas Party themed class on December 13th.

Prices for the classes start at €85 per person and further details are available from cloughjordanhouse.com Cloughjordan House also offers on-site accommodation, with special offers for Bed and Breakfast for those booking a cookery class.

Sarah Baker won the ‘Emerging Businesswoman of the Year’ Award at the Network Ireland Business Women of the Year Awards 2013, having won this category at the County competition which was sponsored by the Tipperary North County Enterprise Board.

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Get down to Skibereen in West Cork and join in celebrating the humble spud at A Taste of West Cork (September 10th- 16th). See the spud as you have never seen it before as chefs from Cornwall, Wales, Brittany, Scotland, the Isle of Man and Ireland use potatoes from their regions in the Celtic Cook-Off competition.

Paul Flynn will be the chef flying the flag for Ireland. Hosted by John McKenna, this promises to be great fun – and educational! The Waterford Harvest Festival also continues all week.