Immerse yourself in Ireland’s food culture and meet the people behind the food; off-the-peg or bespoke experiences, inviting you to discover the true taste of Ireland with Good Food Ireland.
There is no better way of understanding a culture than by eating its food. And this is never more true than with Ireland. An island nation on the edge of Europe, as a people we are all only one or two generations removed from agriculture. (My own grandparents were farmers on my Mum’s side and farm laborers on Dad’s side). Ireland’s location and climate have influenced our culinary culture and today as we produce new ingredients and discover global tastes our true cuisine is still based on this core foundation.
“The secret of Irish cuisine is the naturally high quality of our ingredients” says Margaret Jeffares, Founder of Good Food Ireland® the all island quality assured network of food and drink providers. I had the pleasure of working with Margaret on a Good Food Ireland webinar to our valued travel trade on July 15th , and please email me if you wish a copy of the presentation.
Good Food Ireland® has 15 years’ experience showcasing and defining Ireland’s food scene and offers visitors unparalleled access and a wealth of knowledge like no one else. It is based on a philosophy around the commitment to using Irish ingredients in produce and cuisine, supporting Irish farmers, food producers and fishermen, creating sustainable local communities. The team journeys up and down the country inspecting businesses to ensure everywhere they recommend, meets the quality guarantee for the very best local Irish food and drink experiences. You get exclusive access to the people behind Ireland’s food, hear their stories and discover the true taste of Ireland as you are immersed in the farm to fork lifestyle that defines and inspires Good Food Ireland® every day.
Exclusive Food & Drink Experiences that can be booked through Katie Daly’s Ireland. The below is just a selection of Good Food Ireland Experiences, some available for Groups only.
Visit a Craft Beer Brewery on a working Dairy Farm. -County Monaghan
It’s not often you can experience a craft brewery on a dairy farm. But in Ireland we’ve been brewing beer for centuries and milking cows too. This is a brewery experience with a difference. Based on a family dairy farm in an area where 5,000 years of history lie buried, you will not only learn about the brewing process and handle the malt and hop ingredients but also see the dairy parlour, the cows, hear the history of this ancient Ireland location and taste the beer in the original family homestead, complete with dresser, traditional range cooker, old photographs and memorabilia of times past. You can even choose to hand label and buy your own personal bottle of hand-crafted beer. Siobhan will take you on a very personal experience that will immerse you in art of craft brewing, the cultural traditions of the area and give insights to a local family that has been ensconced in the region for hundreds of years.
Clay Pigeon Shooting & Lunch in Magnificent Historic House & Garden – County Cork
On arrival, guests will meet in the house for tea or coffee, and Bertha’s Revenge Gin tipples (distilled on site). Owner and shooting expert Justin will give a full shoot safety briefing. The Clay Pigeon Shooting will take place in the magnificent setting of this historic house on the lawn field. Shotguns, 50 cartridges per person and ear defenders will be supplied together with insurance for the event. After shooting, house chef Steve will prepare a 3 course lunch – includes a starter, main, pudding and tea or coffee which you will enjoy in the main house or on the dining terrace. Made also with seasonal ingredients from their own walled garden and local artisan produce, this clay pigeon shooting and lunch experience will create a lasting memory of the unique taste and flavour of this idyllic area. -Minimum Number of 10
Oyster Farm Experience
Oysters thrive on our clean and natural coastline. This experience will take you to the shore where you will witness the oyster beds, find out how they grow and discover the unique taste and flavour that makes Irish oysters much sought after all over the world.
Gin Distillery Tour and Round Table Lunch in Historic House
This is a Gin Tour with a difference! A local small batch gin distilled in the farmyard of their own historic house and garden, by the owner and Master Distiller Justin. On arrival you will be met by Justin who will take you on a tour of this truly magical historic house and garden. Walking through the grounds you then visit the artisan distillery and hear all about the distilling process. On tasting you will know why this award-winning gin is so special. Afterwards return to the house for a delicious 3 course lunch – includes a starter, main, pudding and tea or coffee. Made with seasonal ingredients from their own walled garden and local artisan produce, house chef Steve will craft a wonderful lunch experience
Dine with a Local Chef at a Private Lunch – Donegal
This is an intimate experience where you will dine with chef Chris who will host and cook a 5-course tasting lunch menu, crafted from local ingredients, from local people along the Wild Atlantic Way. The menu will take you on a tour of the Donegal “trough”, where Chris and Linda will tell you stories of each dish, of local people and the region’s food culture. A unique taste and flavour, this private experience really is contemporary Irish cooking at its best.
Chocolate Tasting, Chocolate Making & Chocolate Afternoon Tea – Carlow
The Experience begins with a Multisensory Tasting and Interpretation of Chocolate Samples especially chosen to give you an insight into chocolate quality, texture, taste and even sound! The skilled team will explain the finer points that make their chocolate so special. Following this, you will enjoy Afternoon Tea with a difference, of course you will have your choice of Barista Coffee or Speciality Tea, but Jim and Mary’s award-winning Hot Chocolate is really a must! Accompanied by freshly baked scones, whipped Irish dairy cream and homemade strawberry jam, you will also get delicious chocolate brownies and chocolate cakes. Now to the next bit, yes there’s more! Make and decorate your very own Chocolate Moulded Creation to take home, complete with its own mould. As you wait for your mould to cool, you will enjoy a Luxury Chocolate Mallow Fondue and then on return with your moulds, you will be presented with a Chocolate Taster’s Certificate. Now this is a must have Experience for all chocolate lovers!
Private Irish Whiskey Tasting in Historic Landmark Hotel – Dublin’s Shelbourne Hotel
If you’ve always wanted to compare Irish Whiskeys or discover what you like, well this is the perfect sensory experience, in a relaxed and refined setting. In this private 30-minute tasting, an expert from The Horseshoe Bar Team will impart their vast and arcane knowledge of Irish Whiskey, immersing you in the fascinating story behind the glorious ‘Uisce Beatha’. Irish Whiskey was one of the earliest distilled drinks in Europe, beginning around the 12th century, with production reaching its peak in the 1700s, when there were over 1200 distilleries in the country. The fact that the Irish for Whiskey is Uisce Beatha, meaning water of life, probably says it all regarding the importance in Ireland of this drink. You will enjoy a signature Irish Whiskey tasting flight of 4 very individual and special Whiskeys – Midleton Very Rare, Bushmills 10 Year Old Single Malt, Connemara 12-year-old, Green Spot Single Pot Still Whiskey as you are guided through each taster. Now what’s not love about this!
Blackcurrant Fruit Farm and Garden Lunch -Wexford
On arrival to the farm you will meet Des and his two golden retrievers Molly and Sophie, don’t worry they are very friendly. As you walk with Des through the blackcurrant plantations you will hear how these humble Irish super berries became interwoven in Wexford’s cultural history. Learn about biodiverse growing methods and the unique soil of Wexford’s Sloblands, that gives the berries a taste and flavour like no other, anywhere in the world. You will see the hedgehog piles, the bird boxes and wildlife habitats that all contribute to sustainable production. Young horses and breeding mares graze the pasture land and if you are lucky enough you will see the new season baby foals. You can even give a carrot to Tom, Sooty and Beauty, the farm’s resident donkeys. On returning to the historic farmyard and home dating back to 1629, you will savour the taste and enjoy a delicious blackcurrant cocktail (non-alcoholic) made from the berries grown and harvested on the farm.
Contact Katie Daly’s Ireland now to book your Good Food Ireland Tour for 2021
