| Rating |
Date Attended [v] |
Reviewer |
Gender |
Age |
Where From? |
Group Type? |
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If you love food & cooking, you'll love this tour.
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| Wed, Sep 28, 05 10:00 AM |
suzanne33065 |
Female |
50-59 |
Domestic Tourist(s) |
Family Without Children |
| I whole heartedly recommend this tour! I purchased these tickets as a surprise to my husband. We're Flordians and visit Boston at least once a year for a medical conference. We always scout the North End and I hoped he would enjoy the tour as I read the reviews..taking into consideration anyone else's disappointments. We did both thoroughly enjoy it. Michele Torpor is passionate about Italian food and her neighborhood which makes this tour all the more interesting and personal. The selection of stops were very noteworthy and her knowledge of Italian history in relation to cooking and food is formidable. Chef Torpor was excellent as a tour guide and only briefly lost my husband's attention in the wine store where our tour originated (he was overwelmed at the great selection there). My husband has been a serious cook for over thirty years and was thrilled at the information he learned and the sources for the excellent ingredients that he garnered. Wear comfortable shoes and either bring some bottled water or a large coffee. You won't be disappointed and you'll love Boston all the more. DON'T MISS IT!! |
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MMMMMMMMM
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| Wed, Sep 28, 05 10:00 AM |
tamiminich |
Female |
40-49 |
Domestic Tourist(s) |
Family Without Children |
| Michele was very informative. Her love of food is infectious. We toured small shops that we would never have ventured into, not being from the area. Three hours + passed like one hour. Michele moved right along and provided not only a tour, but information valuable to our healthy eating habits. |
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Educational and Fun
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| Fri, Sep 23, 05 3:00 PM |
beverly |
Female |
60-69 |
Domestic Tourist(s) |
Individual |
| Hated it when this tour was over. The time passed quickly as we were being educated about the Noth End, There was a perfect blend of history, food products, cooking techniques, and samples. You really experience first hand the feeling of "community" that permeates this part of Boston. |
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Special and informative
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| Fri, Sep 23, 05 10:00 AM |
campbellito |
Female |
30-39 |
Unspecified |
Unspecified |
| I suppose that with each guide the tour is a little bit different, but I learned so much about this unique section of town. I'm all the way from Seattle, and love to visit Boston in general - but if you have any interest in the Italian culture, the influence it has on the North End, or want an introduction to authentic Italian foods and ingredients, then you should take this tour. The North End is such a closely knit neighborhood that some of our tour stops I'd never have gone in before the tour because they were the very blood in the veins of the subculture; I would have felt a bit like I was intruding! This isn't a restaurant tour, and this isn't a cooking tour - it is the tour to discover how to find the authentic ingredients and tools to cook like a chef and learn little history along the way! If you do choose to shop after the tour, make sure you have plenty of cash. There was one shop that I stopped in that didn't take credit cards; it was such a unique, old fashioned corner grocer that I really didn't expect it to either! |
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Have fun discovering a great neighbourhood
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| Fri, Sep 23, 05 10:00 AM |
debfinn |
Female |
40-49 |
Combination |
Unspecified |
| The North End Market Tour was a great way to get to know this little gem of a neighbourhood. The pace of the tour was perfect for getting to know what the area had to offer and our guide was both interesting and well-informed. The shops we visited were well-chosen and we had the pleasure of sampling some really wonderful products. The balsamic vinegar we tasted in one shop was so incredible that I had to bring a bottle of it home with me and I can't get the gorgeous fresh figs we sampled on another of our stops out of my mind! All in all, this was one of the best tours I have ever participated in, anywhere in the world.
I found myself making a mental list of all the people I know who would have as great a time taking this walking tour as I did. Be sure I will spread the word to everyone I know who is looking for something really unusual to do in Boston! |
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Very interesting Boston North End tour
|
| Wed, Sep 21, 05 10:00 AM |
CarolW |
Female |
50-59 |
International Tourist(s) |
Individual |
| I found the tour very enjoyable and interesting particularly the information provided about the early settlement and later inhabitants of the North End of Boston and their culinary history. |
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New appreciate for what the North End has to offer
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| Wed, Sep 21, 05 10:00 AM |
katiefitz |
Female |
40-49 |
Local |
Family Without Children |
| We were a bit disappointed that Michelle Topor didn't give the tour, but our guide did have deep insight into the North End. We discovered some shops that we would not have otherwise found on our own and learned what to buy at the various spots that we visited on the tour. |
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Fantastic - some history, sampling & touring
|
| Sat, Sep 17, 05 1:00 PM |
cjbooth |
Female |
50-59 |
Local |
Family With Children |
| I would highly recommend the tour to anyone who would like to experience the North End. Learn about the history of the North End, as well as their heritage in Italy. Michelle is fun, knowledgeable and interesting. I would suggest you bring paper and pen to jot down notes. |
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Fabulous, Informative, Delicious!
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| Sat, Sep 17, 05 1:00 PM |
pider09 |
Female |
50-59 |
Domestic Tourist(s) |
Family Without Children |
| This tour could easily be an hour longer. Michele is an excellent guide and provides a great deal of information, including history and things you would never even have thought of, e.g., the origin of being caught "red-handed"! She is terrific and my husband and I are considering taking the tour again the next time we visit Boston. There is not one negative thing we experienced on this tour. |
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Great overview of the North End
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| Sat, Sep 17, 05 10:00 AM |
KellyAnn29 |
Female |
20-29 |
Combination |
Other |
| I was able to see another side of Boston. I discovered a few new places that I wouldn't have otherwise known.
My suggestion to improve the tour:
It seems that most people were not from the area. I think that places like the seafood market were not an essential part because noone is from the area and would go there for seafood. I thought finding out about more restaurants would've been a bigger part of the tour, but this was just given as a handout and not part of what we saw or discussed on the tour. It seemed a little more focused on things that would be great for people that lived in the area and not so much for people who visit from time to time.
Overall, I am more familar with the Boston area, which is great. I just wished it had given a little more info. on the restaurants. We were looking for a good lunch spot and most of the recommendations where for dinner. If they are going to stick with seeing places with unique foods then I think it would be great to give recipes for the foods they are showing.
Thanks! Hope this helps. |
