O9986MImichelleg
Mar 2025
The website says to have a light breakfast or nothing at all. During the first hour of the three-hour tour, all we had to eat was a (delicious, admittedly) breakfast pastry and some prosciutto and cheese at a deli. Paula’s knowledge is impressive, but I could have appreciated it a lot more if she talked while we were eating something more substantial. As it stands, she gave a 15-minute lecture outside in 35-degree weather and, again, no actual food in the first hour. I had to leave as I had a friend visiting and we both needed to eat. I appreciate Paula’s knowledge and experience but at least tell people in advance they won’t be eating for a while if that’s the situation. One of the people on our tour actually said in his intro that he was hungry and we STILL wasted a ton of time before actually eating. Read the room, Paula! People want to eat! We also want to learn, but you need to find a better balance.
Odpowiedź od gospodarza
Mar 2025
Hi Michelle,
I was very sad and honestly disappointed that you just left the tour without saying anything. Your time table for the tour is not accurate and I would like to take a minute to correct the record and to also share what you unfortunately missed.
As you stated I conduct a 15 minute overview of the tour and I make sure to give proper context to the history of the neighborhood. Our first stop is less than a block away and a 5 minute walk tops. We went to a bakery and everyone ate their own Sfogliatella, which is quite significant in and onto itself. The second stop was less than one block away and we had an olive oil tasting, balsamic vinegar tasting, prosciutto and cheese. You would have also had an award winning Italian Sandwich, but you vanished. The third stop was less than a block from the market, and the group was sat to have James Beard awarded Pizza and Arancini, we than sat down for a formal lunch of Caprese Salad, Pasta Amatriciana, and Wine. After that we walked less than a block to the oldest liquor store in the city of Boston and had a Limoncello tasting. The grand finale was Cannoli and Gelato. I can honestly say, there is no other food tour in the neighborhood or probably anywhere that provides as much food for the value. As far as “reading the room” I can honestly tell you that is my specialty. I had a feeling you didn’t want to be on the tour. Sometimes people pick the wrong activities. My tour is a gradual build up to what a typical day of eating would be like in Italy. In my 15 years of doing the tour, this is the first review of someone complaining about the pacing of food.
When you left and I thought something happened to you, I test you that I wanted to offer you a gift certificate to come back because I was genuinely worried. I hope you do consider taking me up on it and having the patience to enjoy the experience. For those reading this response, if you are merely looking for a tour to fill your belly, please consider taking another tour.
Best wishes,
Paula