Even Guinness tastes better in Ireland!
Come with Zingerman’s to experience the wonder of the Emerald Isle! Irish farmers have been growing and producing using traditional methods for thousands of years. But while most people think of Irish cuisine as merely Guinness and potatoes, we know a secret… The modern food scene in Ireland is one that has been quietly and relentlessly brewing for the past 50 years. Today, a new generation of makers, chefs, foragers and artisans are taking these traditions and renewing them for the 21st century.
On this tour, guests will hear, see and taste the story of Irish cuisine - an underdog and a stone that has yet to be unturned by the masses. We'll harvest seaweed by hand, and even craft cocktails using foraged botanicals. And with almost 2,000 miles of coastline, Ireland also has some of the most delicious seafood you’ll find anywhere. Come see for yourself!
Ireland 2023
Dates - May 15-24, 2023
Travelers : 12 people
SOLD OUT
Price - $9500 Per Person
Who?
This trip is designed for both novice and experienced travelers with a passion for great food and drink. We encourage those who are curious to learn about the rich culinary culture and history of Ireland--which goes well beyond the Guinness and potatoes image you might have! We will be eating lots of incredible local dairy, seafood, lamb, and produce. We encourage open minds, adventurous spirits, and a deep passion for traditional foods and their modern-day evolutions.
Our guests are adults of all ages who enjoy long walks and exploring. We keep the group small. A maximum of 12 guests will travel with one Zingerman’s host alongside our collaborative partners, Max and Kate from Bog & Thunder. We’ll also be joined by local experts at different stops in our journey.
Activity level & accommodations
The activity level is medium, with lots of walking in both city and country. You should be able to stand for long periods while on culinary tours of neighborhoods. We will be spending a fair amount of time in the Irish countryside, spending time on farms and on nature walks, so expect some uneven ground. In Ireland, you can experience “four seasons in a day” so don’t forget to pack a raincoat!
We’ve carefully curated a selection of four- and five-star hotels around the island in an effort to balance our active days with comfort and relaxation. All of our hotels include bars or restaurants and a few also offer spa facilities. We’ll also be staying at the highly lauded Ballymaloe House Hotel, home of chef Darina Allen, a friend of the Zingerman’s family for many years.
What’s Included?
Amazing food – all breakfasts, and most lunches & dinners. We will enjoy traditional regional specialties made with local, fresh ingredients.
Behind-the-scenes visits with artisanal producers, local farmers, and chefs; and hands-on baking, cooking, and foraging experiences.
Visits to some of Ireland’s most traditional and exciting food establishments–old and new.
One Zingerman’s tour host & our two Bog & Thunder guides will be at your disposal at all times.
Private transportation.
Hotel accommodations for 10 nights.
What’s Not Included?
Airfare.
Alcoholic beverages that are not specifically included in the itinerary.
A couple of lunches and dinners stated in the itinerary where you will get to explore on your own (suggestions provided!).
Personal spending money.
Tips for local guides.
Sample Itinerary*
Day 1 Dublin
We’ll meet for introductions in the afternoon on the first day at our hotel in the heart of Dublin. We’ll kick off our time together with an aperitivo, Irish-style, over drinks at one of Ireland’s oldest and most historic pubs. After a pint of the black stuff, we’ll head over to the Liberties for a private welcome dinner featuring the best local food from around the Boyne Valley, while our hosts for the evening share stories from the burgeoning Irish food and drink scene.
Day 2
Galway
After breakfast at our hotel, we’ll hit the road and head directly to Galway, Ireland’s culinary capital. After stashing our luggage at our new hotel in Eyre Square, we’ll have a light lunch featuring Irish farmhouse cheeses at one of our favorite cheese shops. We’ll have a little bit of time to explore Galway before heading to meet a sixth-generation distiller for a tour and tasting in the afternoon. We’ll be hosted by one of our favorite chefs on the island for dinner this evening, in a private room in one of Galway’s top restaurants.
We’re heading out to the wilds of Connemara on day three, beginning with a morning expedition to harvest oysters in the Atlantic. Lunch will be at a food truck café featuring homemade wild Atlantic fare, located in a breathtakingly beautiful setting. Later on, we’ll forage for herbs and learn how to make cocktails featuring local botanicals, before heading over to another Galway gem for dinner.
Day 3
Galway & Connemara
Get ready for more fresh air on day four when we head to The Burren, one of Ireland’s wildest spots, known for its rocky landscape. We’ll visit a perfumery where certified organic scents are handcrafted using local botanicals, and then visit a goat farm where some of the finest Irish goat cheese is made. We’ll gather for a long-table lunch featuring a variety of food and drink prepared by members of the Burren Food Trail. In the afternoon, we’ll have the option of visiting the nearby Cliffs of Moher, before heading back to the hotel for a little bit of rest and relaxation. Dinner on this evening is on your own, and we’re happy to make suggestions for you.
Day 4
The Burren
We’ll say slán to Galway on day five, and head south to the foodie haven that is West Cork. Our first stop on this day will be for an exclusive cooking demonstration and lunch with an Irish farmer at her home outside Limerick. Our drive down south will take us right through Killarney National Park, where we will have the option of stretching our legs before completing our journey. We’ll celebrate our arrival at our country house hotel with their famous high tea service. Dinner this evening will be at a Michelin-starred restaurant on the coast, followed by an optional visit to a local pub.
Day 5
Galway to West Cork
Day 6
Kerry & West Cork
After an early breakfast, we’ll pop in the car for a quick jaunt up the scenic Wild Atlantic Way for a seaside discovery experience, where we’ll harvest local seaweed and enjoy an abundant lunch with a couple of our favorite local experts. There will be some time for rest in the afternoon or local shopping, before we head over to an exclusive farm tour followed by a scenic dinner hosted by a longtime Zingerman’s friends and local farmer/cheesemaker.
We’re in for a special treat on this day! We’ll participate in a coastal harvest tour with a local fish smoker who’s been in business for more than thirty years. We’ll head out for a tour of our local guide’s secret spots, where we might find everything from brown shrimp to crabs to chanterelles! Weather depending, we’ll gather on a local beach for a cooking demonstration featuring our foraged seafood and then we’ll eat lunch! Following a quick stop in the cute small town of Clonakilty, we’ll reconvene for dinner at a small, rustic restaurant featuring the very best of local, seasonal, and foraged ingredients from the waters and wilds of West Cork.
Day 7
West Cork
As hard as it is to leave the rugged, wild coastal beauty of West Cork behind, we can’t stay forever! We’ll depart our hotel after breakfast en route to the city of Cork, stopping along the way for a tour of a family-run dairy that specializes in unpasteurized buffalo, sheep, and cow’s milk cheeses made in Southern Mediterranean style. We’ll learn about how they came to raise buffalo in Ireland, and enjoy lunch at their restaurant. After lunch, we’ll head directly to Ballymaloe House Hotel, where we’ll unwind with cocktails in the garden followed by dinner at chef Darina Allen’s much loved restaurant.
Day 8
West Cork to Cork
After a leisurely breakfast, we’ll enjoy a private cooking class and lunch at Ballymaloe. After lunch, we’ll head into Cork for a tour of the English Market, followed by some free time to explore the city. We’ll reconvene for dinner at one of the most popular seafood spots in the city.
Day 9
Cork
Day 10
Cork to Dublin
Our last full day of the trip! After breakfast at our beloved Ballymaloe, it’s time to head north towards the capital city. We’ll arrive in Dublin in time for the city’s best fish and chips, and then we’ll travel to our hotel in the countryside to the northwest of the city. We’ll end our time together after this incredible journey with a bang. We’ll gather at one of Ireland’s most exciting restaurants, for a Michelin-starred tasting menu dinner featuring only ingredients that are grown, foraged, or raised on the island.
*One thing to note: this itinerary is the current plan, and, things may change. We will make every effort to provide the tours and experiences that are described above. However, the nature of the places we’ll be visiting — not typical tourist destinations — means that plans may change at the last minute. Also, you always have the option of skipping a particular excursion, but please note that we will be unable to make refunds for any missed meals or other events.
