Beacon Hill Food Tour

Book a spot now, because Boston’s newest food tour is going to fill up fast. On Friday I was fortunate enough to be invited to Boston Food Finds’ inaugural Beacon Hill/ Back Bay food tour. I worked my work schedule around taking Friday afternoon off, and while it made for some overwhelming moments during the week, it was 110% worth it.

I met the tour group at 1:15 in the swanky lobby of the Liberty Hotel, and we then made our way down the stairs to Lydia Shire’s Scampo for an unforgettable experience.

Scampo

Scampo’s GM gave us a complete tour, pointing out some of Lydia Shire’s personal touches, like this chandelier, which she shipped to the hotel by individually wrapping each of the crystals by hand. It is in Scampo’s beautiful private dining area which can also be part of the main dining room when groups are not using it.

Scampo

Our tour even brought us into the small kitchen where all of Scampo’s magic happens.

Scampo

We got in their way a little, but everyone seemed happy to see us!

Scampo

When we arrived back at our seats, we were presented with gorgeous plates of food. A perfectly fresh tomato, topped with soft mozzarella, a chiffonade of basil, and balsamic and olive oil was paired with spicy local arugula. Scampo uses local ingredients whenever possible.

caprese

The best part of our visit to Scampo was meeting Lydia Shire’s son, Alex. Alex showed us how to make the naan bread for Patrick’s Naan, which we then got to devour. Alex also chatted with us about his incredible future culinary plans, his mother, and his family. He was delightful and makes some tasty naan!

Scampo

Patrick’s naan is house made naan topped with arugula, prosciutto, and saba sauce, a reduction of red wine, clove, juniper berries, and cinnamon. It was crunchy, salty, spicy, and sweet, all in one bite. Our tastes of Scampo definitely have me wanting more!

Patrick's Naan

Once we said goodbye to the folks at Scampo, we headed just across the street to another air conditioned refuge, Savenor’s. The Saveor’s brand is over 65 years old and has been a Boston favorite of many, including the Kennedys and Julia Child, who bought the meat for The French Chef from Savenor’s for 11 years.

Savenor's

Savenor’s is gourmet to the hilt. Their cheese case had me drooling, and their butcher shop is known for its unusual offerings like kangaroo, alligator, and bear bacon, as well as its high quality beef. We were treated to sandwiches made with wild boar and yak!

Savenor's

Savenor's

I have been to Savenor’s before, and it is definitely a place you can spend an hour or more, browsing around and planning the perfect dinner party.

My final stop on the tour, because I had plans to meet a friend, (but only the halfway point for the actual tour!) was Beacon Hill Chocolates. I have been wanting to visit Beacon Hill Chocolates for some time, and I was so happy that it was part of the tour.

Beacon Hill ChocolatesBeacon Hill Chocolates

Beacon Hill Chocolatesmacarons

Once inside this gem of a boutique, we were presented with multiple sweet treats including chocolate orange ladybugs that were decadent and as smooth as silk. We also got to sample gelato and to bring home either a brownie pop or S’more pop and another sample of chocolate. We were treated so well, and each sample was sweet perfection.

chocolate covered marshmallows

 

Beacon Hill Chocolates

After I left them, the tour went on to the Copley Square Farmers Market, Turner Fisheries, and Sweet cupcakes. If the second half was anything like the first, I would imagine everyone had a great time.

The Boston Food Finds Beacon Hill/Back Bay food tour was well organized and perfectly paced, with delicious, manageable samples of each culinary destination. Founder and tour guide Audrey had done her homework and was able to share lots of fun facts with us. It was definitely a special experience and one I would recommend.

If you were to put together a food tour, what area or cuisine would it focus on?

 

Disclaimer – I was invited on this tour as a guest and therefore did not pay for the experience. However my opinions and observations are entirely my own.

Tags: Beacon Hill, Beacon Hill Chocolates, Boston, chocolate, Food, food tour, Savenor's, Scampo

  1. Michelle’s avatar

    Aw, you were right by our place! I’m a big fan of all of the places you visited during your tour!

    Reply

  2. Daisy’s avatar

    I have been to the Liberty countless times and never to Scampo. looks like they have a lot of fun in that kitchen! fun tour!

    Reply

  3. MelissaNibbles’s avatar

    That sounds fun! I would do a Davis Square food tour. I think that area is seriously underrated.

    Reply

  4. Sarah’s avatar

    I am really going to have to get up to Boston to meet you guys! What fun!

    Reply

  5. Erica’s avatar

    Looks like so much fun and you went to some great places. Scampo is always so delicious

    Reply

  6. Megan’s avatar

    Agh! I wish I could have gotten the afternoon off. Just the first stop on the tour had me drooling. And I love Beacon Hill Chocolates! So much fun! I think Inman Square would be a great place for a food tour.

    Reply

  7. Emily @ A Cambridge Story’s avatar

    So fun! Savenor’s is such a gem – I’d love to do this in Cambridge – but I don’t know where i’d begin!

    Reply

  8. Ché @ Knight at the Restaurant’s avatar

    That looks like fun!! Beacon Hill Chocolates is a thing of the gods. Their gelato is incredible.

    I’d say a food tour in the Seaport District to try all the great restaurants moving in over there.

    Reply

  9. Christine’s avatar

    Great post. Love the photos.

    Reply

  10. Shirley’s avatar

    This looks like fun! I love Turner Fisheries, and have been meaning to check out Sweet’s new location.

    Reply

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