North End Market Tour

What a great way to see and experience the North End. We would recommend the tour to anyone who loves food, cooking and history. On our next trip to Boston we hope to take the Chinatown tour. Jim was an excellent host.

The time we spent touring the North End Italian area of Boston was truly the best part of our week in Boston. Wish we had had the time to experience China Town with you.

Many years ago Yankee magazine advertised this tour (days before websites). I called and spoke to Michelle and booked for 6 or 7 friends. We learned so much and felt so much more comfortable when visiting the North End in the following years. We all live on the North Shore, only 22 or so miles north of Boston so we used the information we gained again and again. My husband's national convention happened to be in Boston this year and I booked for some out of towners - and me. I was a bit reluctant when I heard Michelle wasn't doing tours anymore. "Jim" was outstanding! I learned so much about ingredients that authentic Italian cooks and restaurants use. I will be very careful about my EVOO and balsamic vinegar. I must admit that I have always said "I don't care for figs (Fig Newtons being my reference)." But since tasting fresh figs on the tour, I have purchased and enjoyed them at home. I always turned my nose up at fennel, but really enjoyed sampling raw fennel at the greengrocers. This tour opens your eyes and your imagination. I will probably do it again. Thanks so much Michelle and Jim. GD Gail

I would highly recommend this tour. It is not limited to just the markets on the North End, it gives you a great overview on this history and culture of this neighborhood. You don't have to be an avid cook to benefit from and enjoy this tour. I would definitely recommend this tour to anyone considering it.

We highly recommend this guided tour of Boston's North End and it's culinary history. Jim, our guide, was informative, entertaining and attentive. He did a wonderful job of sharing the rich history of Italian cuisine from it regional origins through the many influences that brought it to the present day. We will never look at food the same way again. We are anxious to plan our next visit to Boston so that we can take the Chinatown Tour! Thank you for wonderful experience. Kevin & Michelle Grand Island, NY

We had a great time, and will be frequenting the places we learned about in the future!

If it weren't such a HOT day, I certainly would have enjoyed the tour even more. Our tour guide was very kind in letting us stand in shady spots as much as possible, and allowed us to buy water and sit along the way making it as tolerable as possible given the conditions. I really enjoyed Beth, our tour guide, and the tour experience. I learned alot and really got the flavor of Little Italy, Boston. I LOVED the food tastings, talking about wine, Polcari's, Maria's, the home life of residents, the grocery store, the lemon slush -- great memories. I hope I remember all that I learned. I only wish I had learned about more about olive oil and I wish I could remember what I tasted. No complaints. I really appreciate the handouts, maybe the tastings will be listed there, I'm not sure. Overall, my family and I really enjoyed the tour. Thanks for asking my opinion. Maria

Whiel this tour was very historical I felt it wasn't worth the asking price. We didn't sample as many items as I've sampled on other food tours. I woudl have liekd to have visited a few more stores or shops and tasted their local products.

I would recommend this tour to anyone interested in learning more about Italian customs and food. It was well organized and the stops we made were all informative. The shop owners were terrific and very friendly.

Michele Topor was a wonderful tour guide! She was articulate, educated on all sorts of interesting topics and was delightful! Her knowledge of Italy was also a plus as it gave us many insights into things we did not know. The samples were delicious and helped us make purchases after the tour ended. I expected to visit more than, I think it was 5, locations. After completing the tour I felt as though it was a bit pricey for the amount of time and number of locations we visited. Something in the range of $35.-$40.00 would have seemed more reasonable for this tour. All in all it was fun if one can afford it.