Seller:

MicheleTopor
  Michele Topor, Inc.
Ratings Summary:  Rating: 4.81 (828)
(All reviews for this seller)
  # of
Reviews		 Overall
Rating		 = Positive
Points		 – Negative
Points		 % Positive Average
Rating
Last 3 months 56 149   150   1 98% 4.8
Last 6 months 87 231   232   1 99% 4.8
Last 12 months 313 828   829   1 100% 4.8
All 757 1964   1979   15 99% 4.8
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About this seller (MicheleTopor)

Ratings by Activity
(Each activity's ratings from the last 12 months)
  Overall
Rating		 % Positive Average
Rating
North End Market Tour 791 100% 4.8
Boston Chinatown Market Tour 37 100% 4.8
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757 Matching ReviewsDisplaying Reviews 16 - 30Prev  1 2 3   ... 51   Next
Rating Date Attended [v] Reviewer Gender Age Where From? Group Type?
Rating: 5 GREAT tour
North End Market Tour
  Fri, Apr 25  3:00 PM vchurchman Female 60-69 Domestic Tourist(s) Family Without Children
  My husband and I really enjoyed the North End Market tour. Our guide, Jim, was very knowledgeable and made the tour very entertaining. For example, "do you know how to tell the gender of an eggplant and why is it important?" You'll learn the answer on the tour. If you are interested in the history of the North End, or Italian cooking, or just a fun afternoon, this tour is a must activity.
Rating: 4 foodie
North End Market Tour
  Fri, Apr 25  3:00 PM kmill2763 Female 40-49 Local Family Without Children
  Very knowledgable and entertaing!
Rating: 5 North End Tour was Great!
North End Market Tour
  Fri, Apr 25  3:00 PM victorandamy Male 40-49 Domestic Tourist(s) Couple on a Date
  This tour was run by a former chef who was very knowledgeable about Italian food and the North End in general. By taking the tour, I got a sense of what it might be like to live there. One is able to see passed the tourist crowded Hanover St. The tastings at the different stores were wonderful. The owner of the tour chooses what she considers to be the best shops and then pays those shops for all the tastings. She does not take any money from the owners. I can't wait to get back to Boston to check out this company's new Chinatown tour!
Rating: 5 Lots of fun
North End Market Tour
  Fri, Apr 25  10:00 AM SeMartin Male 50-59 Domestic Tourist(s) Couple on a Date
  We had a wonderful day to walk around the north end. The group was not too big. The tour guide was very interesting and well informed. We learned lots of interesting information.
Rating: 5 How can learning be this much fun?
North End Market Tour
  Fri, Apr 25  10:00 AM JoSwitzer Female 60-69 Domestic Tourist(s) Family Without Children
  For people who are adventurous, curious about Italian and Italian-American cuisine, and who love to learn about food, this is a terrific tour. What did we enjoy most? --the introduction to the history and ethnic cultures of the North End --the contrasts between regional Italian food and Italian American food --the ways that culture affects cuisine --the ways immigrants adjusted to live on this side of the Atlantic --how generations changed in the North End -- and we saw the elderly folks still shopping like their forbears in Italy --the visit to Polcari's where the owner weighed coffee on a 100 year old scale --the visit and tasting at Maria's pastery shop -- absolutely amazing subtleties --the stops along the walk when the guide pointed out historical sites --the Salumeria with an in-depth look at salamis, cheeses, and balsamico --the handouts so we could return in person or on the web All it all, it was perfectly paced, "just right" in terms of how much we learned, and very tasty. We'd do it again in a minute!
Rating: 5 Extremely interesting, informative and tasty!!!
North End Market Tour
  Fri, Apr 25  10:00 AM zborowski Female 50-59 Domestic Tourist(s) Group of Friends
  This was one of the favorite activities that we did on a recent trip to Boston. Not only was it fun but we learned so much about Italians, Italy, Boston and Italian cooking. Jim, our guide was excellent. The shop owners were delightful. We discussed what we learned over lunch at one of the recommended restaurants then went back and bought Italian cooking supplies based on the knowledge and samples, of this tour. I highly recommend this tour!!!!
Rating: 2 Boring. Too much talking and not enough eating.
North End Market Tour
  Wed, Apr 23  10:00 AM jltredway Female 30-39 Domestic Tourist(s) Family Without Children
  This was nothing like the other food tours I have done. The other tours had you walking around the neighborhood as the guide discussed both the history of the area being visited, as well as, stopping at many of the local shops to sample food. I found those tours to be very interactive with the guide. On our tour there was hardly any interaction, but just constant description of foods without actual tastings of food. I would not have spent my time on the tour if I had known what I was in for and the rest of my group felt the same way. I was expecting this to be a highlight of my trip and not a disappointment.
Rating: 5 Miles beyond FoodTV
North End Market Tour
  Sat, Apr 19  2:00 PM eormberg Male 30-39 Local Family Without Children
  There were a variety of experiences that defined the North End Tour. I thoroughly enjoyed the history lesson with facts and figures. I had heard of regional cooking, but Jim's explanation went a whole level deeper. The differentiation between Italian cooking and Italian American cooking was an undercurrent presented without pretense. We were reminded throughout the day that what the American public doesn't know is, evidently, what makes them the American public. From the fake balsamic vinegar to the D.O.P. distinction on San Marzano tomatoes. I came away from the experience with a solid knowledge base and was introduced to five hidden gems in the North End. My Christmas shopping list started swirling in my head as I walked around Cirache's after the tour. I walked into Maria's not knowing what our first stop would bring. It's funny how you look at a bakery one way, cannolis, bread, cookies, etc. Then after stop one I had a whole different perspective of what I was actually looking at. Plus, to see a little Nana eating her 4pm sweet with coffee as Jim was telling us that mid-afternoon is the time to have sweets since the Italians start dinner so late, was a reinforcing experience that exuded no arrogance, only truth supported by the locals. I've never had authentic balsamic vinegar and now that I've tasted it, I can accept no substitute. Not a fan of those apertifs, but I am intrigued by the saffron colored drink, (Strega?). I learned the taste value of almond paste and ever the chocoholic, I enjoyed the toto as well. I will admit the produce store reminded me a little of the soup nazi episode on Seinfeld, but I understand and accept the protocol since those in the know simply know what to expect. Throughout the tour I was amazed at Jim's wealth of knowledge. He kept his audience on-task and interested. It was three long hours on your feet, that trip to the aquarium in the morning didn't help my cause, but the information we were presented kept the pace moving appropriately--even as we grew in size. I've visited the North End a number of times, but for $55 to get a curtain thrown back on the history and more polished, hidden gems is priceless. I took from the tour an education I can immediately apply to the kitchen and as an educator the lesson you learn that can be applied to life is the most priceless lesson of all. Jim was personable, approachable and knowledgeable. He seemed to me to be Anthony Bourdain minus the ego and pretense. He had instant credibility having worked in a restaurant in the N. End. Plus, his world travels added further authenticity to the tour. I think people with a more distinct worldview have a better presentation in instances such as this. I'll never look at cinnamon the same again, nor will my mom who enjoyed this gift tremendously for her 62nd birthday. Looking forward to Chinatown. Erik Ormberg
Rating: 5 don't miss this one!
North End Market Tour
  Sat, Apr 19  1:00 PM smccln Female 50-59 Local Group of Friends
  michelle certainly knows what she's talking about - the north end and its food and merchants. she is also a very engaging speaker - interesting and with a great sense of humor. just to show how she goes the extra mile, when i e-mailed her that these tickets were a gift for my niece's birthday, she arranged to have the bakery we visit present her with a cake. a nice surprise for all of us!
Rating: 5 i learned so much
North End Market Tour
  Sat, Apr 19  10:00 AM patgarg Female 60-69 Domestic Tourist(s) Other
  maria's pastry was informative and fun - went back twice to buy cannoli to eat and cookies and biscotti to bring home to our friends. Learned so much at the grocery store and wine shop. will understand lables much better when buying products. Also went to shake the tree and got some great clothers and candles.
Rating: 5 A great tour - highly recommended!
North End Market Tour
  Sat, Apr 19  10:00 AM giselan Female 40-49 Local Group of Friends
  Our guide was great (Jim), very knowledgable, enthusiastic and interesting. He told us the history of the North End, and shared its culinary history as well. We visited shops I had never seen before despite having lived in Boston for 14 years. We learned about olive oil, tasted pastry, tried the best prosciutto, and much, much more. It was fun, interesting, we learned a lot, we ate a lot, and overall it was one of the best tours I have ever been on. I put in photos and more information on my website: www.lovebostonwithme.com Link directly to the photos: http://www.lovebostonwithme.com/Boston/North_End_Market_Tour_photos.html I highly recommend this tour if you love food, can walk for 3 hours without much sitting down, enjoy learning history of the North End.
Rating: 5 Fabulous Experience!
North End Market Tour
  Fri, Apr 18  10:00 AM codimy2 Female 50-59 Domestic Tourist(s) Couple on a Date
  My husband and I traveled by plane so we had limited space for bringing home items and Michele was well prepared with information so that items could be ordered and shipped directly to our home. My husband is a pastry chef and was thrilled with all the information Michele provided throughout the tour. We went back to several of the places that were on the tour and sampled more on our own. We would highly recommend this activity for anyone. If was informative, fun and tasty too!! Thanks for a great 3 hour tour. The Myers - Canton, TX
Rating: 5 Fun and Informative!
North End Market Tour
  Wed, Apr 16  10:00 AM kat2082 Female 20-29 Domestic Tourist(s) Couple on a Date
  My partner and I thoroughly enjoyed our experience.
Rating: 5 Great Sampling, Learned a Lot
North End Market Tour
  Sat, Apr 12  2:00 PM bonniebr Female 50-59 Local Group of Friends
  Ten of us went on this tour. We had lots of laughs with our guide, We visited grocery stores, a wine store, and a bakery. At each stop we learned more about the history of the North End, its people and buildings. We sampled at every stop and learned many tips about products. We went back and made purchases at some of the establishments we had visited before heading out to dinner at Al Dente and then dessert and coffee at Mikes. A wonderful afternoon and evening.
Rating: 5 Great tour for a small group
North End Market Tour
  Sat, Apr 12  10:00 AM jogoose Female 50-59 Local Group of Friends
  We had a small group of 7 people in the tour. The tour was great but I wouldn't have wanted to be in a larger group. The places that we went to were very small and had other shoppers in them too.
757 Matching ReviewsDisplaying Reviews 16 - 30Prev  1 2 3   ... 51   Next
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