The last time I was in Boston, I was 10 or 11 years old. I remember very little about the experience. So, when I made the decision to go to graduate school at Boston University, I knew I wanted to spend some time getting to know the city before I move.
My trip to Boston got off to a rocky start. I had to wake up at 4:30 AM to make my flight from New Orleans to Boston. When I arrived to Boston, I hadn’t had any food, water, or coffee that day. My body was feeling the lack of sleep and sustenance. I was unsure if I was going to make it walking around the city all day. Good thing our first stop was for food.
Chris and Andrew (yes, the other 2/3 of the Hungry Trio) flew from DC to meet me in Boston. We had a hotel room in the West End, nearly adjacent to historic downtown Boston. Our first activity was to walk into historic downtown to Faneuil Hall.
Faneuil Hall is a historic marketplace/meeting hall that was been open since 1743. This building was a gift to the city of Boston from wealthy merchant Peter Faneuil. At one point, Faneuil Hall was used as a slave market. I did notice that there was an exhibit on historic sites in Boston for African Americans. I don’t know if this is the city’s attempt to rectify this history, but I do hope to learn more about what Boston has done to acknowledge their participation in the slave trade. Boston and Massachusetts are known for being leaders in the abolitionist movement, but that does not erase their past. I would like to visit the African American museum after I move there.
Right now, Faneuil Hall is under construction for renovations. The exterior of the building is covered in scaffolding, which is not the most beautiful sight. However, this entire marketplace area is quite beautiful. Behind Faneuil Hall is Quincy Marketplace, which was constructed in 1824 to expand market capacities.
Today, Faneuil Hall is largely a tourist destination. There are tourist driven shops inside and tours are available in the Great Hall. We did check out the shops, and I even picked out a couple things to buy. However, if you are looking for food, Quincy Market is the place to go. Inside Quincy Market, there are a number of food vendors on the first floor. This is where we chose to get lunch, our first meal in Boston.
We explored the Quincy Market food colonnade before deciding on getting sandwiches from West End Strollers. I got a panini with smoked salmon, lettuce, and fresh mozzarella. It was the perfect introduction to Boston food, where seafood meets Italian. The fresh mozzarella really gave this sandwich an amazing texture. I believe this sandwich offers some foresight into what my diet is going to look like once I move to Boston.
I was feeling a bit better after getting some food and water in my system. I felt ready to take on Boston. From Faneuil Hall, we got onto the T (Boston’s subway system) and ventured toward BU’s west campus for a meeting with my graduate program. I can see myself coming back to the marketplace for more meals in the future.
*This post reflects my honest views. I did not receive any compensation or other incentives to post this review.
West End Strollers
1 S Market St.
Boston, MA 02109
(617) 720-6020
Catie Cooks 