Exceptional Experiences For The Perfect Last Minute Gift
We’re in the final countdown for the big day, and if you’re really stuck for a last-minute gift for the lover of food and drink in your life, then a voucher for one of these exceptional experiences could be the answer.
A voucher for an experience is an instant purchase, so there’s no need to venture out and risk life and limb in the crowds at the shops or wait for delivery. And despite it being oh-so easy peasy to arrange, it’s the kind of gift that looks like you spent a lot of time and thought on. So here are some of our top picks for food and drink activities you can grab for your pals this Christmas.
Bar 1661 Tasting Experience
This is a one-of-a-kind and essentially world first cocktail showcase. For €165, you can sip your way through the entire award-winning We Call This Power menu. The two and a half hour experience is an intimate session that gives you a miniature version of each drink on the expansive menu, along with nibbles. A host from the exceptional Bar 1661 team guides you through each serve, offering insight into the stories, techniques and ingredients behind the drinks.
Janet’s Dumpling Class
Give them the gift of knowledge, specifically the knowledge of how to make some of the most delicious and authentic Chinese dumplings around. Janet is a legend thanks to her famous food container at the Bernard Shaw and she is not interested in gatekeeping her secrets. You can buy your pal a voucher to join one of her dumpling-making classes. For €80, the lucky recipient gets two hours and fifteen minutes of expert tuition from Janet herself, plus a meal of the dumplings and some Chinese tea at the end.
Foraging With Wicklow Wild Foods
The end times are drawing near, so learning how to fend for themselves in the wild may be the greatest gift of all. If you are interested in foraging, it is vital to go with someone who really knows their stuff, and Geraldine Kavanagh of Wicklow Wild Foods is the best of the best. The full-time botanical forager for Glendalough Distillery, she has a passion for the wild that flows through her veins. You can gift a voucher for a three hour masterclass in the wilderness of Aughrim and Rathdrum, Co. Wicklow, where participants will learn to identify commonly found wild leaves, flowers, fruits, nuts and mushrooms.
Rascals Brewery Tour
We are short of good craft brewery bars in Ireland, but thankfully what we do have is world class. Rascals is everything you want from a brewery bar, a delicious and varied selection of classic and experimental brews all served alongside a menu of some of the city’s best pizza. You can even tour the facility and it is super easy to grab a gift voucher so your pal can tour the facility. It is €21 for a tour that lasts 45 minutes and includes a beer sampling. You can also get them a separate voucher to cover beers and pizza if you want to go all out and pay their expenses for the full day.
Picado Supper Club
Picado is a real treasure trove of delights for fans of Mexican cooking, one of the few places you can get your hands on authentic ingredients and learn how to use them. Their workshops and classes are always a hit, but if they are not fans of cooking for themselves then you can also get your friends vouchers to their supper clubs. They have vegetarian, vegan and standard options that always have a fun theme to them. The suppers start at €85, but sure the gift of authentic food is something truly precious.
