Cannoli. Veal saltimbocca. Mushroom and cheese ravioli. These are among the mouth-watering cuisine specialties one finds in Boston's North End, the city's Little Italy. Walking around the roughly one-square-mile area in the Massachusetts capital, it becomes clear that there's more to this New England coastal destination than just clam chowder.
In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Boston was the first stop for tens of thousands of immigrants, first from Ireland, then from Eastern Europe, and finally from Italy, and the traditions of the Italians who ultimately claimed the neighborhood continues to this day.
The first wave of Italian immigrants arrived in the 1860s from Genoa and settled in a small neighborhood off Fulton Street. They numbered under 200, but by 1900 the Italian population in the North End reached 14,000, and in 1930 there were some 44,000 Italians living in the crowded square-mile area.
It was in the North End where three friends who had arrived from Sicily launched a small pasta business in 1912 on Prince Street. The company grew and eventually moved out of Boston to a suburb, but the brand, Prince Pasta, became a national business and is still sold in stores and supermarkets. Today the North End is a foodie's paradise, and several food tour companies offer visitors a behind-the-scenes look at the restaurants, shops, and chefs specializing in Italian delicacies.
Food Tours Of Boston's North End Showcase Pasta, Pastries
There are several tour operators that shepherd tourists through the North End. Some are run by people with longstanding ties to the area, and others are national and international tour firms that focus on distinct neighborhoods like the North End. All of the tours noted include food in the price, and all last about three hours.
North End Boston Food Tour describes its tour as a feast on food and culture and an exploration of the back streets of the neighborhood. With tours priced at $75 per person, this company promises that customers will tour the oldest Italian bakery, where Boston's first pizza was baked, visit a spice shop in operation since 1932, taste test an Italian deli's imported cheeses and homemade pasta, and discover the North End's top pastry shops.
Among the stops on this tour is Parziale's Bakery, which opened in 1907 and sells a wide variety of breads, including braided rolls, knotted rolls, ciabatta, and round Tuscan bread. It boasts a half dozen types of biscotti, plus cannoli and turnovers. It even sells pizza, whole or by the slice.
Another stop, Cantina Italiana, is a restaurant that has served the North End since 1931. Specialties include Scarpariello, which is pan-seared chicken with spicy sausage, garlic, white wine, hot cherry peppers, and Sicilian oregano, and served with gremolata crostini. At Antico Forno, visitors will explore a venue where almost everything is cooked in a brick oven – not only its pizza but also lamb and chicken dishes, and even potatoes.
Another tour company offers Boston's Politically Incorrect North End Food Tours, which offers both lunch and dinner tours at the cost of $79 per person. The tour guide describes himself as a North End native who speaks Italian and knows all of the details, and secrets, about the neighborhood and isn't afraid to reveal them. Along with various restaurants, this tour features a visit to the Salumeria deli, where customers will learn how to make an Italian panini, and a 112-year-old wine shop where visitors can learn all about Italian wines.
Off the Eaten Path Tours offers a lunchtime tour, with each course focusing on a particular region of Italy. The $90 per-person tour ends with a quintessential Italian dessert of espresso, cannoli, and gelato. This firm also specializes in group events, such as corporate gatherings, birthdays, and reunions, with customized itineraries.
Historical Sites Are Featured On Food Tours
Virtually all the food tours in Boston's North End also point out historical sites seen throughout the neighborhood. Boston's Freedom Trail runs through the North End, and its highlights include the Paul Revere House and the Old North Church.
The Paul Revere House, which was built in 1680, was the home of the American patriot during the time of the American Revolution. The Old North Church, created in 1723 as Christ Church, is a national historic landmark and still has an active Episcopal congregation. It is the oldest church in Boston.
Also on the trail, visitors will find the historic Faneuil Hall, Copp's Hill Burying Ground, and the Old South Meetinghouse, where public protests against the British were held in the early 1770s. Faneuil Hall, a 1742 building, houses the Quincy Market, North Market, and South Market and sells food and many other products. But those who complete a North End foodie tour will likely be too full to partake of the hall's goodies.