Our Story
Hear our story and meet our experience-obsessed tour guides!
From Our Founder
Boston just wouldn’t be home without its food.
One of the most unique things about any city, is the food and our city is no exception. Without our chefs, kitchens, and world-renowned eateries Boston just wouldn’t be home.
So, as we look to bring guests from near and far to experience this remarkable place, we’ve partnered with some of the city’s most incredible restaurants to make the experience more authentic, flavorful, and unique.
What makes this such a labor of love for me is the exploration – I love to discover different cultures through cuisine, and food has always been an integral part of special days and unforgettable experiences when I travel.
I’ve brought that passion back with me – for food and for cultivating relationships – to Bites of Boston. I treasure the relationships I’ve built with all of our partner providers in the city, from small cafes to top restaurants. And, of course, our amazing guests, for whom I’m so grateful.
All we’re missing, is you. Join us soon to discover beautiful Boston, one bite at a time!
Alyssa Schoenfeld, Founder
Our Team
The guides who will show you their Boston
Rachel
Tour Operations Coordinator · Social Media & Food & Fun Blog Manager
Local Eatery: Sofra Bakery & Cafe, Cambridge
Food Quote: “Knowledge is knowing a tomato is a fruit. Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.” – Miles Kington
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Rachel was born and raised in Hells Kitchen, NYC where she was immediately exposed to a wide range of foods but her plate did not expand much past ice cream and apples as a kid. While these are still two of her favorite foods, she has found herself immersed in food in all senses of the word since she moved to Boston. She completed an undergraduate degree in hospitality at Boston University with a minor in journalism. She went on to earn a masters in gastronomy from BU as she began to pursue a path of food writing. She has two main focuses – storytelling and lifestyle/blog writing. She loves highlighting small, local food businesses and telling her own stories surrounding food. If you’re looking for her you will likely find her on a stoop in Brookline eating a treat from Clear Flour Bread in a brown paper bag.
Katie
Tour Guide
Local Eatery: Mooncusser in Boston
Local Dish: Shakshuka from Tatte Bakery & Cafe, Boston, Cambridge
Food Quote: “Food brings People together on many different levels. It’s the nourishment of the soul and body. It’s truly lovely.” – Giada De Laurentiis
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Growing up in Denver, Colorado, Katie fell in love with Boston after visiting a friend who went to college in the city. Now living in the Boston area for over 20 years, the history, architecture and culture – and of course the food – are still the things that attract her to this incredible city. After enjoying the the Sweet & Savory South End Tour so much as a tour guest, she decided she wanted to be a part of the fun and joined the Bites of Boston team as a tour guide! Katie is a First Grade teacher, and also enjoys spending the summer and weekends sharing all the things she loves about the South End with guests as a guide. Katie is a big fan of local food and loves to find fun, new restaurants to enjoy!
Katie
Tour Guide
Local Eatery: El Pelon
Local Dish: Chicken gyro from Gyro City (Brighton)
Food Quote: “Laughter is brightest in the place where food is.” – Irish Proverb
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Growing up an hour outside of Boston, Katie would often come to the more touristy neighborhoods for dinner with her family. It wasn’t until she moved to the city after college and started exploring that she discovered what the rest of the city had to offer. Exploring different neighborhoods through local restaurants (especially bakeries!) is one of her favorite pastimes. When she is not giving tours, baking, or watching cooking competition shows on Food Network, she works as a curator at a local museum.
Natalie
Tour Guide
Local Eatery: Beehive, South End
Local Dish: Crispy Chicken Basil from Siam Bistro, Financial District
Food Quote: “You don’t need a silver fork to eat good food.” – Paul Prudhomme
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After growing up just outside Denver, Colorado, Natalie fell in love with Boston during a college tour. She decided to make the move out East and ultimately received her undergraduate degree from Bentley University where she studied math and business. Eager to stay in Boston after graduation, Natalie signed her first lease in Boston’s Brighton neighborhood and began working in finance. She has since lived in neighborhoods all over the city including Brookline, South Boston, the West End, and Back Bay. She has loved exploring and trying the foods of each neighborhood and is excited to share her knowledge and love for the city through food tours. When she’s not trying new restaurants, Natalie can be found taking a stroll along the esplanade, jamming out at a concert (usually hip-hop), or cheering on the Celtics.
Jillian
Tour Guide
Local Eatery: Pho Viets
Local Dish: Baklava pancakes from Brookline Lunch
Food Quote: “What’s good for you, must be good for all. If you are lost, share a plate of food with a stranger… you will find who you are.” - Chef José Andrés
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Jillian was born and raised on Long Island, New York and moved to Boston in October 2022. Growing up she was quite the picky eater, however it was when she moved out for college and later moved to Spain after graduation that she really began to expand her palate outside of store-bought rotisserie chicken and Rice-A-Roni that she was used to. She will never forget her first food tour in the Basque Country, Spain where she ate such different but delicious foods than she was used to. After that experience, she wanted in on the action! The year after that she became a wine and tapas tour guide in Madrid and loved every second of it. After relocating to Boston, she wanted to replicate that experience and quickly stumbled upon the Bites of Boston website. When she’s not leading tours, you can find Jillian dancing salsa and bachata, playing pick-up soccer or riding her bike on the esplanade.
Judy
Tour Guide
Local Eatery: Fox and the Knife, South Boston aka “Southie”
Local Dish: Sultan’s Delight from Oleana, Cambridge
Food Quote: “Good food is like music you can taste, color you can smell. There is excellence all around you. You need only be aware to stop and savor it.” – Auguste Gusteau (from the movie Ratatouille)
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Judy is originally from South Korea but has lived all over the world (Seoul, Bogotá, Miami, Austin, NYC). After graduating with her masters from Harvard, she now works in data analytics and reporting. Judy loves to travel and enjoys trying out new dishes to discover how history and culture influenced local cuisines. Having experienced food tours in different cities, she wanted to share her love of food with others in Boston and is thrilled to be a part of the Bites of Boston Team!
Megan
Tour Guide
Local Eatery: Hecate
Local Dish: Fresh bagels from Mamelah’s
Food Quote: “Life is short, eat dessert first.” – Jacques Torres
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Megan is a freelance food and wine writer with a love of all things Boston. She has written for outlets like Wine Enthusiast and Eater Boston. When she’s not giving tours, you can catch her at local haunts like Bow Market.
Jess
Tour Guide
Local Eatery: Mei Mei Dumplings, South Boston
Local Dish: Pecan Bun from Flour Bakery
Food Quote: “Food is everything we are. It’s an extension of nationalist feeling, ethnic feeling, your personal history, your province, your region, your tribe, your grandma. It’s inseparable from those from the get-go.” Anthony Bourdain
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Jess is a Rhode Island native, but has only just begun to explore Boston after moving here in 2024. She spent much of the 10 years after college traveling, tour guiding, and (of course) eating wherever she went. She has led both national, “road-trip” style cross-country trips for foreign tourists, as well as local neighborhood tours for locals and visitors alike during her time in San Francisco. After moving to Southie, she knew she wanted to get involved in the Boston food tour scene and quickly found Bites of Boston. She now enjoys diving into the history and food scene of her new city, all while sharing what she learns on her tours every weekend.
Andrew
Tour Guide
Local Eatery: Cafe Vanak, Belmont
Local Dish: Custard buns from Ho Yuen Bakery in Chinatown
Food Quote: “There was hardly anything to eat, and there was only tea, and two miserable starved Highland chickens, without any potatoes! No pudding, and no fun!” – Queen Victoria complaining about the menu at a Scottish inn, 1861
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Andrew Coletti is a food writer and educator with a passion for history. He has written for Gastro Obscura and Tasting Table and produced historical cooking videos under the moniker Pass the Flamingo (because the ancient Romans ate flamingos). Originally from CT, Andrew previously lived in NYC and worked in museums before relocating to the Boston area. He’s always learning how to cook something new!
Christina
Tour Guide
Local Eatery: bōm dough coffee & dough | Inman Square
Local Dish: Ice Cream Taco (served on Tuesdays) from Honeycomb Creamery | Cambridge
Food Quote: “Food is our common ground, a universal experience.” – James Beard
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A native New Yorker with a love for bold flavors and rich stories, Christina made Boston her home two years ago—and quickly fell in love with the city’s history, culture, and (most of all) its incredible food scene. For her, these food tours are more than just a culinary experience—they’re about building connections: between people and neighborhoods, visitors and locals, and diners and the small businesses that make Boston’s food culture so vibrant. Whether you’re a local or just passing through, Christina’s tours are a celebration of community, culture, and of course, great food.
Sarah
Tour Guide
Local Eatery: Il Casale, Belmont & Lexington
Local Dish: Lobster Eggs Benedict from Woods Hill Pier 4, Seaport
Food Quote: “People who love to eat are always the best people.” – Julia Child
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Sarah grew up just outside of Boston and has spent much of her career in the city’s restaurant scene, working with chefs, restaurateurs, and local dining spots across New England. She enjoys exploring Boston’s neighborhoods and is the one friends and family turn to for restaurant recommendations and things to do. Whether she’s trying somewhere new or going back to a favorite, she loves experiencing the best the city has to offer. When she’s not giving tours, you’ll usually find her dining in the Seaport, stopping by the Liberty Hotel (a former jail turned luxury hotel and one of Boston’s most unique spots), or enjoying views of Boston Harbor.
Patrick
Tour Guide
Local Eatery: Pho Pasteur, Chinatown
Local Dish: “Steamuhs” from anywhere
Food Quote: “Suppose all ya ever had for breakfast was onion rolls. Then one day, in walks a bagel! You’d say, ‘Ugh, what’s that?’ Until you tried it! That’s my problem – I’m a bagel on a plate full of onion rolls.” – Barbra Streisand, Funny Girl
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Patrick Burr moved to Boston in 2018 and has become passionate about this city, its food, and the hidden histories you can discover here. Though he primarily grew up in Maryland, he spent summers on the North Shore visiting family and eating seafood. In addition to being a Chinese food aficionado, Patrick is a theater educator and fixture of the local drag scene. He can’t wait to explore Chinatown with you on a tour soon!
Hayley
Tour Guide
Local Eatery: Sarma
Local Dish: Cacio e Pepe at Fox and the Knife
Food Quote: “One cannot think well, love well, sleep well, if one has not dined well.” – Virginia Woolf
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Hayley grew up right here in Massachusetts and has long held an appreciation for the local history and cuisine that it has to offer. While Hayley has lived in a few different areas (NH, Washington DC, El Paso), she has found herself settled in Somerville where she has spent the last several years working in the community. When she isn’t trying new restaurants and dishes, her love of food is further shown through her love of cooking and hosting. No day out on the town is complete without a stop at Curio Spices or Dave’s Fresh Pasta for fun new ingredients and of course, a stop for a sweet treat. Hayley is currently pursuing her Masters in Social Work and is thrilled to be on the Bites of Boston team!
Jocelyn
Tour Guide
Local Eatery: Qiao Lin Hotpot
Local Dish: Enchiladas from Sol Azteca
Food Quote: “狼吞虎咽 (to eat like a wolf and tiger)” – Ling Mengchu
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Jocelyn grew up hopping between Boston, China, and Canada, so food became a way to not only explore but also to understand the various pockets of the world she was experiencing. Recently returned from conducting anthropological research abroad in Taiwan, Jocelyn is excited to be back in Boston and (re)discover the local food landscape. She’s looking forward to meeting you! Thanks for spending your time with Bites of Boston.
Amy
Tour Guide
Local Eatery: Zhi Wei Cafe
Local Dish: Cold scallop soba at Somenya (esp. on a hot summer day!)
Food Quote: “Listen: a symphony of crackle. Only great bread sounds this way.” – Colette, Ratatouille
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Amy is a born and raised MA native with a passion for sharing her family’s Chinese heritage through hometown bites. A recovered picky eater, she loves exploring hidden gems at home and expanding her palate abroad. Along with guiding, you can find her running along the Charles river esplanade, sketching around the city with her trusty travel watercolors, or volunteering at local arts and cultural events through Pao Arts Center and the Museum of Fine Arts.
Skye
Tour Guide
Local Eatery: Himalayan Kitchen, Union Square
Local Dish: Chicken caesar wrap at Figaro’s
Food Quote: “Obviously, if you don’t love life, you can’t enjoy an oyster.” – Eleanor Clark
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Originally from Seattle, Skye moved to Boston in search of an adventure and has quickly built a home on the East Coast. She is passionate about trying new things, building community, and prioritizing fun in all aspects of life. She is known for making friends anytime she leaves the house. When she isn’t searching for a good matcha, you’ll likely find her playing ice hockey, reading, practicing yoga, or spending as much time outdoors as possible. Skye is excited to join the Bites of Boston team and hopes to sprinkle in some jokes while sharing her love for Boston’s history, culture, and food.
