Michele Topor, Inc.

very informative

I am an FBI---Full-blooded-Italian, from Tampa, Ybor City, Florida. I was amazed at what I didn't know about the cooking items I've used for years. Our guide was so enthusiastic about what he was doing. I would encourage any visitor to Boston, to part-take of this unique tour of Little Itlay. June Vento

I had an excellent time. Jim was a great tour guide. Very knowledgeable and personable. What a great combination. Thank you for offering such a wonderful tour. Well worth the cost. I would recommend this tour to everyone!

A GROUP OF FRIENDS AND I WENT ON THIS TOUR AND HAD A BLAST - IT WAS INFORMATIVE AND FUN AS WELL AS TASTY!!! WE ALL FELT IT WAS MONEY WELL SPENT. EXCELLENT INSIGHTS INTO THE ITALIAN CUISINE AND HOW DIFFERENT AREAS OF ITALY CAME UPON DIFFERENT STYLES OF COOKING AND SPICES. OUR ENTIRE GROUP HAD FUN AND ATE AT ONE OF THE RECOMMENDED RESTAURANTS - DELICIOUS. OUR TOUR GUIDE JIM WAS WELL VERSED AND KEPT THE TOUR INFORMATIVE AND FUN!!! I WILL GO ON THE CHINA TOWN TOUR NEXT TIME WITH THE SAME COMPANY. TAKE THE TIME AND GO ON THIS WONDERFUL JOURNEY TO THE NORTH END MARKET - YOU WILL FEEL LIKE YOU HAVE MADE FRIENDS WITH THE OWNERS OF THE STORES!

The tour was hosted by Jim, the same host that also did the Italian North End Tour that we took last year. He is just the best -- he speaks the language of the locals as well as filled us full of the history of the Chinese settlement in the Boston area. He took us to every location mentioned on the tour outline, the bakery, the candy store, an antique store, herb store and grocery store (explaining at each location significant information regarding items that were available and how they were used and/or tasted). Then the final stop for a dim sum lunch. The hours passed quickly. We returned the next day to the same restaurant for dim sum, went to the herb store and purchased three items that he pointed out and also visited another store he recommended we take a look at that was not on the tour - Vessel's. You will not be disappointed selecting this tour. It is totally worth the $$ spent.

We went on the tour with our 2 kids ages 11 & 13 who are foodies in training and they loved it.. There was enough interesting history and information and enough food tasting to make the day wonderful. Our tour guide was fun and interesting and kept everyones attention.. I especially loved the story about the "Tongue of mother in law " pasta. The kids really liked it too. Great tips on what is real "Balsamic Vinegar" and great olive oil tasting.. We all went back to Maria's Bakery and loaded up on tasty treats.. Thank you so much.. I would highly recommend it!!!! next time we will do Chinatown....

Our tour guide provided us with a wealth of information. We not only learned the history of Little Italy in Boston but he also was very informed about Italy as it related to the food and cooking of the country. The different places we toured may have been ones I might not have gone into if I had not been on the tour, but if I had visited them I would not have enjoyed the history of each of the shops. This is a tour I would recommend to anyone that has an interest in cooking and especially the Italian way of cooking.

My husband and I enjoyed a lovely day taking the North End tour with Jim, as our tour guide. He was very upbeat, had a sense of humor and was very knowledgable of the history of the area. We certainly enjoyed all the shops that he took us to as well as the samples that the shops were gracious enough to share with us. We learned a lot about the history of olive oils and balsamic oil which was very interesting to me as I love to cook. My friends told me about it, and I have now passed on the info to three of my friends who would love to take the tour. We're all thinking of doing the Chinatown tour as well which sounds wonderful. We would do it again in a heartbeat if one of our friends asked us to go. It's so worth the time and the money!!!

I loved the tour. It included just the right mix of history, fun facts and stories, and food and wine tastings. The vibe of the North End and our tour guide's personality provided a lovely and informative experience, pleasing to all my senses. I'm passing on the good word to everyone I know!

My sisters and I recently participated in the North End Market Tour. It was one of best things we did on our trip to Boston! Everyone should take advantage of this activity. It is a great way to experience the "local" culture of this neighborhood. Our food guide--Jim--was exceptional and very knowledgeable about Italian food/cooking and the culture as he led us through the North End and it's market places.

Had an excellent time. I learned sooo much and although the tour was 3 hours at the end we all wished it would continue. I would definately do this again.

The North End tour was fantastic. It was great to get a different perspective of the North End, where previously we only went to eat at a restaurant. We now understand and appreciate the evolution of the Italians in Boston, and how they have maintained their heritage in cooking. The guide was very good, and the shops we visited were very accomadating. I would recomment this to anyone interested in Italian cooking or eating!

We found the tour very informative, and well worth the time and cost. I was raised in a large Italian family, and I was surprised at how much new information I got from this tour. I thought I knew a lot about Italian food and cooking before the tour-now I know a lot more.

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.

WE WERE THERE WITH FOUR OF OUR FAMILY AND TEN OTHER PEOPLE, SOME FROM OUT OF STATE. OUR TOUR DIRECTOR WAS GREAT. HAD A VERY GOOD COMMAND OF THE TOUR SUBJEST, THE AREA, THE HISTORY OF THE ITALIAN FOOD BY TERRITORY. FIVE SHOPS WE VISITED WERE EXCELLENT CHOICES OF VARIOUS CULINARY INTEREST. THE ONLY DRAWBACK WOULD BE THE LENGTH OF TIME WE HAD TO STAND AS THE TOUR LASTED THREE HOURS, A LONG TIME FOR PEOPLE CLOSS TO EIGHTY TO STAND.THIS CERTAINLY DID NOT DISTRACT FROM THE WONDERFUL TOUR.