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THE QUESTION

Where can I celebrate Thai new year?

Songkran, or Thai new year, is celebrated on April 13-15 every year. Traditionally, perfumed water is poured on to hands in a purifying ritual. Of course, here at Nibbles we're pure enough already, but we'll be getting in to the spirit of things all the same. You don't need to jet off to Bangkok to join in - we've found the best events taking place around the country.

In London, Mango Tree is really going to town, with a five-day spectacular celebrating regional Thailand. The festivities kick off on April 9, with a special menu (£20 a head), plus music, folklore and dancing. There is also a new year menu on offer at the Blue Elephant, though prices are quite steep: starters cost around £9 and mains climb as high as £24.

Elsewhere, the Sangthai restaurant in York is offering a celebratory set menu from April 15-20, and - notably - a separate menu for vegetarians (both £28). The Thai Grand in Loughborough is celebrating on one day only, April 14, with live music and traditional dancing. In Hampshire, the Zen Garden restaurant at Senspa, Careys Manor House, is hosting a Taste of Thailand night, also on April 14. It features massage and cookery demonstrations, dinner, bucks fizz and dancing, all for £37.50. Finally, the Tongdam restaurant in Somerset is offering special menus for a full week, starting on April 7.

If you really want to celebrate in style, book a place on the Harrods/Nahm Thai cookery course, taking place this Saturday (April 5). The day involves a private tour of the Harrods food hall with Nahm's executive chef, a hands-on cookery lesson in the Nahm kitchen and a sumptuous Thai banquet. The course costs £155; call 020 7893 8155 for more information. For a slightly more affordable Nahm experience, book a table on April 12 or 13 to sample the new year menu. At £55 a head, it's the most expensive in town - but it's probably the best.

Alternatively, whip up a Thai feast at home. We like Yotam Ottolenghi's modern take on a Thai green curry; Allegra McEvedy's Thai salad; and Terry Tan's easy Thai dishes. As it's a special occasion, give the beer a miss and try a German riesling - its sweetness works well with the spicy flavours.

IN SEASON

Wild garlic (aka ransoms)

Catch these pungent young leaves while you can - they don't hang around for long. Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall recommends a whole host of uses for them here, from simple dips to scrumptious soups and wild welsh rarebit. Check out the seasonal recipes over at Why Organic, too - this month there's a great wild garlic pesto.

CRITIC'S QUOTE

All celebrity chefs are essentially whores but, at times, [Gordon] Ramsay has shown more thigh than is strictly necessary.

Jay Rayner reviews The Warrington, London W9

BEST BUY

Rain or no rain, this week we are determined to celebrate the longer evenings heralded by the start of British summer time. A punnet of fresh strasberries is momentarily tempting from a novelty perspective, but soft fruit in early April is plain wrong. Instead, we're plumping for a Chilly Billy ice-lolly. These award-winning lollies are made from pure fruit, mostly pressed English apples, and cost just over a pound a pop. The sensible might wish to refrain until the weather warms up a touch ...

· Bensons Chilli Billy ice-lollies are on sale in Waitrose, National Trust outlets, Tate Modern and Tate Britain and delicatessens and farmers markets

TOP TIPPLE

We love Union Hand-Roasted ethical coffee, so we were thrilled to learn that it is their beans, from a Rwandan cooperative, that flavour one of our favourite beers, Meantime coffee.

This heady brew may not to be everyone's taste, so as a special springtime treat, here's a cocktail recipe for those with a more delicate palate:

Ketel One Dutch spring punch

Mix Ketel One vodka with crème de cassis and lemon juice, then top up with champagne. Garnish with a blackcurrant (when in season, naturally).

OFFER OF THE WEEK

If you join the Soil Association this month, not only will you receive a guide to organic living, a copy of Living Earth magazine and a card entitling you to a host of special offers, but the first 150 people to sign up will also receive a copy of Alastair Sawday's British Bed and Breakfast and three bars of Green & Black's chocolate.

· Standard single UK membership costs £24 a year. Visit the website for more information and to join

OPEN/CLOSED

London: A new branch of Clapham's popular pizzeria, Eco, has opened in Chiswick.

Upper Glas, Anna Mosesson's Swedish restaurant in Islington, has closed.

ROOM FOR AFTERS?

Grow your way to the good life with the Guardian latest how-to guide, free this weekend

The winners of the Observer Food Monthly awards are revealed

Top chefs improve our favourite staple recipes

Matthew Fort and Jay Rayner give us a sneak preview of their new books

Plus this week's recipes, reviews and wine recommendations, all at theguardian.com/food

· News to tell us? Email rachel.dixon@theguardian.com