I am on the plane to Boston and all I’m thinking about is food. It may have something to do with the fact that I didn’t eat lunch, but it probably has more to do with the fact that Boston is one of my most favoritest places to EAT.

I grew up in an Italian/Portuguese family with a love of food and lots of good cooks. You could always expect amazing food at our family gatherings. Boston brings me back to my Italian & Portuguese roots.

The North End hosts an endless array of Italian bakeries, cafes, and restaurants with some of the best pastries you will ever have. I can’t wait to go to Bova’s Bakery and down a lobster tail, a crispy, flaky pastry with a creamy filling. And from there to Mike’s for a chocolate whoopie pie as big as your head. We’ll venture down a little brick alley way to Bricco, a little secret bread shop that only locals know about. Over by Paul reveres house is Limoncello, one of the most delicious Italian restaurants I have ever been to. And then there’s  la famiglia giorgio ….gah their pumpkin ravioli in sage cream sauce melts in your mouth and is one of the most succulent, perfect dishes I have ever had. The Green Dragon Tavern is just outside of the North End towards Quincy Market. It is the tavern where Paul Revere and the other patriots used to meet to discuss strategy on how to defeat the British.

Quincy Market is always a bustling hub with “fast food” restaurant supplying you with clam chowder, lobster bisque, oysters and all thing delicious. I always get lobster bisque in a bread bowl from bisque from Boston Chowda. Yum.

A short walk from there and you can get succulent snow crab at The Barking Crab. Barking crab isn’t that awesome, but I love it for being on the water and for having huge picnic tables, and live music. If you head towards Boston Common, you will run into Jacob Wirth’s and their corn bread is to die for. Sonsie on Newburry is the perfect place to dine on a warm summer night. The whole front of the shop opens and you can enjoy the warm breezes. Po Boy in Newtonville is a bit out-of-the-way but with a cheery owner who will give you free fresh made onion rings and a huge Po Boy sandwich with shrimp and catfish, well, its worth it.

If you need coffee and sweets, head over to The Thinking Cup. A coffee shop using coffee from Portland’s Stumptown roasters and brewed to perfection. A latte with a tulip latte art and a macaron please. The hipster historical decorations of this coffee shop have landed it a spot in one of my favorite coffee shops ever.  On Newburry Street you will find Sweet Cupcakes, and J.P. Licks, best ice cream ever.

For breakfast check out Flour Bakery and have one of Joanne Cheng’s famous sticky buns. Ooey gooey deliciousness.
Au Bon Pain is another favorite breakfast stop with their oatmeal bar and fresh squeezed orange juice. It’s a chain, but its acceptable because it is so good!

If you have time for a little day trip drive about an hour and a half north to Pie in the Sky bakery in York, Maine. Worth the drive. Believe me. They have these coconut blueberry bars that are as big as your face and one of the most heavenly things you will ever sink your teeth into. The pie is about $6 a slice you might skip over it thinking that’s way too much to spend on pie…but I am telling you, buy the whole pie and you will thank me that I just made you spend $40. In fact you will probably want to mail me another $40 because your taste buds will be so happy. Best pie you will ever have.

I could go on and on. And I could write just as extensive list about any city I have visited. But for today, here are my Boston favorites. Please go up there and try them out!