An immersive plant-to-plate experience nurtured by Ashford Estate’s team

For the true gourmand, the most fulfilling vacations include time spent learning new culinary techniques, strolling through the garden or farmers’ market beside a chef as they pick out ingredients for the night’s menu, and, of course, indulging in the delicious fruits of one’s labor at the table. At Ashford Castle on the shores of Ireland’s Lough Corrib, the culinary team has put together an immersive food experience that takes one on a sensory exploration through the historic kitchen garden to gain a sense of place – and taste. 

Cré, The Kitchen Garden Experience

In the heart of Ashford Estate lies a philosophy rooted in nature – “Cré.” In the Irish language, Cré has two meanings. In its first iteration, it means “soil” or “earth,” representing the rich foundation upon which life flourishes. Yet it also means “creed” – the guiding principles and values that shape our actions and define our identity.

At Ashford Estate, Cré echoes the deep-rooted commitment of the Estate gardeners, who cultivate and care for the estate’s many vegetable plots and gardens holistically, as well as the talented team of chefs who are dedicated to infusing every dish with a profound sense of place and purpose, drawing inspiration from the estate’s seasonal harvests and Ashford’s storied history.

During the Cré experience, culinary-minded guests will don wellies, grab a handmade wicker basket, and enjoy a private, guided kitchen garden tour where they will touch, taste, see, smell, and forage the bountiful produce being grown in the estate’s two-acre historic kitchen garden, once tended by the Guinness family and now restored to its former glory. The garden brims with homegrown produce, from rhubarb, garlic, and peas, to pumpkins, carrots, herbs, and edible flowers. 

Afterward, guests will visit Squire Danager’s cottage on the estate grounds, where they will be joined by Ashford Castle’s executive head chef who will help guests prepare all the vegetables, fruit, herbs, and edible flowers they harvested on the garden tour, and teach them about food pickling and preservation, flavor balancing, and preparing homemade salad dressings. Chef Finnegan will then take over to cook a special three-course meal full of flavor and seasonal homegrown ingredients.

For those who travel to feed their passion for food, this is a unique chance to enjoy the best seasonal, sustainable produce sourced just yards from their rooms in the company of some of the finest gardeners and chefs in Ireland. Rooted in nature, the tour fosters a profound appreciation for food provenance. Guests will learn about seasonality, the estate’s commitment to organic cultivation through its “no dig, no chemical” philosophy, and its promise to do its part to enhance and protect biodiversity in the local area. 

Cré, meaning soil or earth, represents the rich foundation on which the estate’s kitchen gardens are built. Guests are led by estate gardeners, Alex Lavarde or Niamh Flannelly, executive head chef, Liam Finnegan, and senior sous chef, Hilary Casey, who are committed to evolving the estate’s food chain and imbuing a sense of place and purpose. 

At the end of the tour, it’s time to eat – guests will enjoy a delicious fresh salad, followed by a seasonal risotto, and to finish, a selection of locally sourced cheeses and homemade crackers, served with preserves made from produce grown on the estate grounds. 

Send your clients on a journey of culinary discovery, during which they will delight and learn through a one-of-a-kind experience that showcases the vital role of food in a memorable holiday. This experience showcases the symbiotic relationship between gardener and chef as they work together to create next year’s menus from the seeds of this year’s harvest.

Availability and Booking

Available from June to October, the “Cré: The Kitchen Garden Experience” lasts approximately 3.5 hours for groups of up to six people. Priced from €2500.00 for 2 people and €250.00 per person thereafter to a maximum of 6 people; advance booking is required and is subject to availability. Terms and conditions apply. In the event of inclement weather, jackets, wellingtons, and umbrellas will be provided.

Reservations: ashfordcastle.com or contact Rebecca Recommends for an introduction to Ashford Castle.

Email – [email protected] or call 094 954 6003.