Culinary Tours: Itinerary
DAY 1: DEPART FOR IRELAND
Begin your voyage to Ireland.
DAY 2: DUBLIN
Meals: Coffee Stop, Dinner at Pearl Brasserie
Accommodation: Five Star Merrion Hotel
Early morning arrival in Dublin, to be met by your driver-guide and tour manager. City sightseeing tour with coffee stop and early afternoon check in at the five star Merrion Hotel, composed of four Georgian townhouses—the epitome of elegance. Dinner at the adjacent Pearl Brasserie.
DAY 3: DUBLIN: SIGHTSEEING, SHOPPING, SIPPING AND SUPPING
Meals: Sheridan's Cheesemongers, Guinness Storehouse, Choice for Dinner
Accommodation: Five Star Merrion Hotel
After breakfast, a full day touring the best of Dublin, beginning with Sheridan's Cheesemongers and continuing on to the Guinness Storehouse, although we recommend that you take your pint at The Stag's Head, one of the last of the traditional Dublin pubs. No TV. No muzak. No slots. Only chat.
Afternoon free for heavy retail therapy or the glorious gold of Ireland's past— free, yes free in the National Museum in Kildare Street.
We leave you to make your choice of dining establishment but we will be happy to guide and recommend. (Please note: we do not take kickbacks from anyone.)
DAY 4: HEADING NORTH: DOWNPATRICK, BELFAST AND MORE
Meals: Lunch at Slieve Donard Hotel, Dinner at Bourbon Restaurant
Accommodation: Four Star Europa Hotel in Belfast
Leave Dublin and take the main road north to the border, where we cut off to round the mountains of Mourne. Stop for lunch in the wonderful and refurbished Slieve Donard hotel, where the mountains really do sweep down to the sea.
Afternoon visit to Downpatrick and the excellent St. Patrick Centre—hear the story of Ireland's all too human patron saint. Then a short journey to Belfast, capital of Northern Ireland, to check in at the four star Europa in the city centre. Perfectly situated across the street from the ornate Crown Bar, the Europa is also convenient for our evening meal in the riotously decorated Bourbon Restaurant.
DAY 5: BELFAST, ANTRIM COAST, CASTLES AND CAUSEWAYS
Meals: Lunch in Old Bushmills Distillery, Dinner in Ardtara
Accommodation: Ardtara: Northern Ireland's Finest Country House Hotel
After a brief tour of the city centre, we head northwards again on the celebrated Antrim Coast Road, which the Lonely Planet Guide recently rated as one of the "ten best drives in the world". Mind you, the founder of the Guide is from these parts, so she may be a tad partial! Passing the Norman megalith that is Carrickfergus castle, we wind our way round the Glens of Antrim until we reach the Giants Causeway with its 37,000 basalt columns and spectacular views over the North Channel to Scotland.
After lunch in the Old Bushmills Distillery, we head inland to Northern Ireland's finest country house hotel—Ardtara—for overnight and dinner. (Please see accompanying article).
DAY 6: BAKERS, BLACKLIONS, AND OTHER DELIGHTS
Meals: Breakfast and Dinner at Macnean House
Accommodation: Macnean House in Blacklion, Co. Cavan
Morning visit to Robert Ditty, Ulster's master baker. Robert has been producing traditional and speciality breads forever (he even supplies Harrods) so he is The Man. Then it's on to the Ulster American Folk Park at Omagh before we cross the border (just) and arrive at the Macnean House in Blacklion, Co. Cavan. Dinner and overnight in Macnean House.
DAY 7: A DAY WITH AN IRISH MASTER
Meals: Breakfast and Dinner at Macnean House
Accommodation: Macnean House in Blacklion, Co. Cavan
The morning is given over to a half day course from Neven Maguire, the leader of the new generation of Irish chefs. Neven will explain how he has sourced and used the best of local Irish produce and will demonstrate one or two of his best creations.
Afternoon visits to some of his organic producers and Belleek Pottery (if time permits) followed by dinner and overnight at Blacklion.
DAY 8: WINDING RETURN TO DUBLIN
Meals: Lunch at Strokestown House, Dinner at Clarion Hotel
Accommodation: Clarion Hotel at Dublin Airport
The return journey to Dublin is enlivened by a visit to Strokestown House, a former stately home in the middle of Co. Roscommon. Ironically, apart from the excellent Famine museum, Strokestown also houses a late Georgian kitchen. How the other half once lived!
We end our tour at the Clarion Hotel at Dublin Airport, which is much more convenient for early morning flight departures than a city centre hotel. Bed and breakfast at the Clarion.
DAY 9: DEPARTURE
Morning departure from Dublin Airport for flight home.
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