Food & Drink: Reader offer

If you want to order an oyster cracker you can get one at a special price for IoS readers of pounds 8.99 (p&p included), from Rossmore Oysters, Carrigtwohill, County Cork, tel: 00 353 2188 3248. You can order oysters by mail from Loch Fyne Smokehouse, Clachan Ardkinglas, Cairndow, Argyllshire PA26 BBH, tel: 01499 600217. Johnny Noble, who grows them, trains his oysters to survive many days out of water, thus guaranteeing freshness when they arrive in their attractive wooden punnets.

For oyster-haters, here's an alternative: book your Valentine's Day lunch at The Connaught (0171 499 7070). For the launch of the new black truffle season, the hotel is organising a five-course truffle lunch, plus a lecture by one of the Peybeyre truffle family from the South of France. The cost is pounds 75 per head.