One of the best things about travel, in my opinion, is the food. Each corner of the world offers some type of special cuisine that reflects the area’s heritage and culture. While many travellers to the United States might expect only cheeseburgers and fried chicken, I can assure you that the country’s food is as varied as its landscape.
When my husband and I were investigating a holiday to the United States, we found a Boston city break on Expedia. Once we had our destination locked in, I began to investigate the types of food unique to that part of the country. What I found was several local dishes that sounded so delicious that I couldn’t wait to board the plane to Boston and indulge in the variety of sweet and savoury delights that I knew were waiting for us.
Cranberries
While cranberries might not be as popular as other berries, if you’re in Boston you must learn more about the state’s largest crop. These tart berries thrive in areas all over the state, and learning more about the way that they are grow is almost as much fun as tasting them.
The cranberry harvest typically occurs in late September through October, which coincides with the lovely fall foliage season in the region. The best way to see both of these local wonders is by driving through the rural parts of the state. Most of the cranberry farms in the region offer tours of the facilities, and if you visit during harvest season you’ll see the cranberry fields flooded with water and turned into bogs. This causes the berries to float which makes harvesting much easier.
A farm visit is the best way to learn more about these delicious berries and to purchase some to take home.
Lobster Rolls
I have to admit, when I initially read about it, I didn’t know what I lobster roll was. Of course I was aware that the New England region of the United States is famous for their lobster dishes, but what is a lobster roll? After I learned more about this unique sandwich, I couldn’t wait to try one.
Families have been divided over the debate of which is the best lobster roll in the area, but we decided to try the one at Neptune Oyster House in Boston. Remember that lobster is a delicacy and they’re not cheap, but I would have paid 4 times the menu price for this. The lobster was sweet and tender, the mayonnaise dressing had a lemony bite to it, and the cucumber provided some much needed crunch. If you’re in the area you must try one.
Fried Clams
I’ve never really considered fried clams to be something so special that a city would be famous for them but that was before I went to Boston. I had heard so much about this crispy snack that I was certainly ready to see what the fuss was about.
As with the lobster roll, many people have very differing opinions as to the best fried clams in town. We decided to try the version offered at the Summer Shack restaurant in Cambridge. The clam strips were fried to a perfect golden brown and were served with a tangy tartar sauce that was so good we had to ask for an extra serving.
Boston Cream Pie
While many aficionados say this dessert is more of a cake than a pie, I wasn’t concerned with semantics and simply wanted to indulge my sweet tooth. We decided to try this sweet at the place that invented it, the Omni Parker House in Boston.
Composed of layers of custard and chocolate atop a beautifully simple sponge cake, this dessert is creamy and sweet without being overly cloying. Aside from the delicious food offered here, the ambience is classic and the service is impeccable. Be sure to have a reservation here as the Parker House is quite popular.
Boston Baked Beans
As a Brit I consider myself to be well versed in baked beans. However, that did little to prepare me for the Boston version, which is also the origin of Boston’s nickname of Bean Town.
Dating back to the times of the settlers, the baked beans here are slow cooked with pork and brown sugar, with a host of other savoury ingredients thrown in for good measure. We tried the version at Durgin-Park in Faneuil Hall. Served in a small crock, the beans are cooked to a perfect al dente and the sweet and pork-rich sauce should be bottled; it’s that good. The menu here offers several other famous local dishes, which makes it a great place to try a variety of Boston specialities.
I could go on and on about the amazing historical and cultural aspects of the city of Boston, but it was the food that most captured my attention. If you fancy a wide variety of delicious seafood, vegetables, and other delightful dishes, consider a visit to beautiful and delicious Boston, Massachusetts.
