| Rating |
Date Attended |
Reviewer |
Gender [v] |
Age |
Where From? |
Group Type? |
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So much more than food....
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| Sat, Jun 20 9:30 AM |
lauracun4 |
Unspecified |
20-29 |
Local |
Family Without Children |
| This was a wonderful cultural experience. Our tour guide Jim was very knowledgeable about Chinese languages, customs, history, and of course, cuisine. I highly recommend this tour, especially for Boston locals who will be able to frequent the local shops. My husband and I will definitely be signing up for the North End tour. A bargain considering the amount of time and expertise of the guide! Thanks Jim! |
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A great informative and entertaining outting.
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| Sat, Nov 1, 08 9:30 AM |
ecb121646 |
Unspecified |
60-69 |
Local |
Group of Friends |
| Our tour guide Jim was very informative and knowledgeable. All the sites visited were interesting and places we had never visited before even though we are locals from the suburbs. Enjoyed the history of food in China. Everyone in my group said they had a fabulous time and plan on revisiting some of the shops and eateries. |
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Great experience...
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| Sat, Sep 19 9:30 AM |
mikeylusa |
Male |
50-59 |
Domestic Tourist(s) |
Family With Children |
| I booked the Chinatown Market tour after finding this tour while looking for Dim Sum restaurants in Boston. We were very happy with the tour, as we learned a lot about the background of Boston's Chinatown and got to see a variety of shops, and taste samples at each stop. We especially enjoyed the Chinese grocery store tour. The overall tour was well organized and the tour guide very knowledgeable and easy to understand. We were given tips on what some of the better restaurants are in Chinatown, in a printed handout. We intend to return to Chinatown more often now that we have had our introduction.
The Dim Sum lunch at the end of the tour was very fun and we had a variety of Dim Sum type of foods. Dim Sum is a Chinese buffet that they bring to you, with servers bringing food continously in rolling carts. The lunch and all food samples in the shops along the way, are included in the tour price. Have fun. |
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Don't miss this excellent overview of Chinatown!
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| Sat, Aug 15 9:30 AM |
rkaszynski |
Male |
60-69 |
Local |
Family Without Children |
| This was an event my wife and I had been talking about for years. So much so, that my daughter gave me gift certificates to this tour for my birthday. Our Tour Guide was excellent and extremely well-qualified for this event. We visited various restaurants and pastry shops as well as unique gift shops and even an herbal pharmacy. Interesting history of the culture and locale was pleasantly sprinkled in along the way.
Of course, other individuals on the tour can make the going much more satisfying. We had such a fine group.
I wish we had visited other shops such as Jewelry, Porcelain, Wood and Gadget Shops.
It was a GREAT excursion and we next want to attend the North End Tour. Looking forward to meeting Michele there.
And yes, we will again take the Chinatown Tour. |
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excellent tour and guide
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| Sat, Jul 25 9:30 AM |
ballain |
Male |
50-59 |
Domestic Tourist(s) |
Couple on a Date |
| Our tour guide was outstanding - very knowledgable and personable. The Dim Sum was excellent, and was at the restaurant recommended to me by Chinese-Americans. |
|
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Great introduction to the food and culture.
|
| Sat, Jun 20 9:30 AM |
Gary_Sigai |
Male |
60-69 |
Domestic Tourist(s) |
Family Without Children |
| Chinatown is very busy and impossible to go on you own. It was wonderful having a guide who spoke fluently the language and led us through the ins and outs of the area. Since we are foodies ourselves, it was really great taking a walk through the local shops and tasting and learning all the way. The dim sum lunch was outstanding...something we would not have tried on our own. The supermarket was an experience with all the fresh sea life and Chinese-specific vegetables some that I have never seen before but anxious now to use...another reason it was nice to have an experienced chef along. |
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Fantastic
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| Thu, Jun 11 9:30 AM |
jwarchol |
Male |
60-69 |
Local |
Family Without Children |
| My wife and I are from western Massachusetts and have never explored Chinatown. After this tour with Jim Becker, we plan to enthusiastically go back for many more visits. The tour flew by as we meandered the streets and stopped at the various shops, including bakeries, herbal stores, and restaurants. Throughout all of it, Jim provided the fascinating history of the area in a well-paced and planned presentation. His knowledge of Chinese culture is amazing. No question could stump him and the culminating dim sum lunch was perfect. We're hoping this company will offer more tours like this of other neighborhoods. By the way, Michele's North End tour is also excellent. |
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interesting, insightful and delicious
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| Wed, Jun 10 9:30 AM |
modig8 |
Male |
40-49 |
Local |
Other |
| we loved our guide, his knowledge of chinese culture, the language and the history of boston's chinatown. additionally, his tidbits of info at every stop helped bring the tour to life, not to mention the fantastic food we had the chance to experience. top notch all the way. can't wait to do the north end tour as well. |
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Everyone should do this...
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| Sat, May 23 9:30 AM |
Dark_Knight |
Male |
40-49 |
Local |
Couple on a Date |
| Our tour guide, Jim, was fantastic! His general knowledge of the the culture as well as Boston's Chinatown was impressive. Althought the tour was to be 3.5 hours, we were still at Dim Sum after 4.5 hours having a blast. This is impressive considering that we all just met that morning.
We foudn the diversity of the tour and the locations appealing and the ease and welcoming attitude fo the store owners refreshing. The latter left such an impact on us that we went back to two fo the stores to make purchses.
We have also recommended this tour to all our local freinds, which is significnat, and we are also looking to do a larger group for the Norht End excursion.
THe only downside to the tour and it had little to do with Jim, but one of the stores he recommended us to go to for a Dim SUm guide was not that hospitable. They actually had a bit of an attitude and suggested that the tour guide not continue ot recommed sending people there, becaus ethey have not carried the Dim SUm book for awhile. We will get the book from Amazon, but the store employees, should rercognize the business that Jim is affording them adn try to adjust the behavior.
Overall: This wasa great date surprise! Thank you Jim! |
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Chinatown Revealed
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| Sat, Apr 18 9:30 AM |
eormberg |
Male |
30-39 |
Local |
Other |
| Last year I took my mother on the walking tour of the North End where my ignorance was exposed by the history lesson of the region, as told by Jim. I knew nothing of the North End and knew EVEN less about Chinatown. With the Chinatown tour, Jim again, put the history literally and figuratively, on the map. After first coming to terms with the fact that every Chinese food dish I enjoy insults all of China, I let go of my American-Ignorance complex and enjoyed the tour.
The places we visited with Jim allowed the curtain to be drawn back enough to increase the comfort level. Sometimes, being in the ignorant minority can allow you a more distilled appreciation of the region you are exploring. I tried things I hadn't ever heard of "bubble tea", "flower water," and "moon cakes". After the explanation at the entrance of the neighborhood, I felt more empowered and less ignorant--the ying and yang began to balance.
I never would've walked into the pharmacy in Chinatown. Now, I feel less apprehensive. The grocery store revealed a lot about the pantry items. The dim sum experience left me wanting to return immediately with a group of rookies. It was a cultural experience of a tour. It was informative, flavorful, and even slightly uncomfortable.....who really feel comfortable eating bird feet? As Jim encouraged us to "get outside the cocoon," I felt invigorated to learn and be open-minded. I look forward to more authentic Chinese barbecue.
I found the story about altars quite spiritual. As Jim said, we must not ignore our ancestors because they become "hungry ghosts" and hungry ghosts become....well....take the tour and find out yourself. I know I'll never order General Gao/Dow/Chow/Tso's chicken again. I now know the truth about fortune cookies, egg rolls, chop suey and other unholy violations.
My only regret is that there is not (yet) another tour for next year. The duck boats just don't seem as appetizing. Thank you Jim, you give the tour substance and sustainability.....keep working on that Middle Eastern tour idea.....This play needs a third act.
Erik |
