A culinary tour to feast on

Irish cuisine? No longer an oxymoron, the term is gaining new respect at home and abroad, and you can experience some of the best on a 12-day culinary tour to Ireland that departs Oct. 9.

The group will be accompanied by frequent Irish Echo contributor Margaret M. Johnson, author of "Cooking With Irish Spirits" and "The Irish Heritage Cookbook."

There will be general sightseeing, but considerable time will be devoted to cooking demonstrations, visits to a salmon smoker, cheesemaker, and village markets, tastings of wine, whiskey, and mead, shopping for Irish crystal and crafts, and sampling Celtic, traditional and modern Irish cuisine.

A highlight of the tour is a three-night stay in Kinsale, Ireland’s "gourmet capital," during the 24th International Gourmet Festival, which closes with a festive black-tie ball.

The price is $2,350 per person, which covers 10 nights’ lodging, all breakfasts, eight dinners (including medieval banquet), demonstrations, three-day festival ticket, and most admissions.

Airfare is extra.

Call Cuisine Tours at 877-8CUISINE, or 503-646-3700.