Posted on March 13, 2016
To celebrate the latest version of our Union Square International Market Guide, we are hosting a series of walking tours visiting local food markets in March, April, and May. Below you can find the tour dates. Space is limited and these tours fill up fast so we recommend you sign up soon.
Here are the reasons why you should come on a market tour:
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You can buy affordable and delicious food
Pão de queijo, Brazilian cheese bread recently baked at Mineirão.
Who doesn’t love finding delicious and affordable food? The Tufts Culinary Society came last week on our market tour with a tight budget to spend in each market. At Mineirão, the group of ten got pão de queijo, three for $1; and a huge plate from the Brazilian buffet for less than $10. In the Korean Market, they were astonished to try the snacks for much less than in other stores in the Boston area. They had ten sushi rolls for less than $5!
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You will try new flavors
The samples were only an appetizer. Tufts students bought some products to bring home including basmati rice, tea, and other treats. They also bought stuff they hadn’t tried before such as hot sauces, and Nepali chips from Bombay Market; soju, considered Korea’s most popular alcoholic beverage, and sweet potato cookies from Reliable Market.
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You will learn about international products
Korean, Chinese, and Japanese products at Reliable Market.
Getting to know the people who work in these markets will allow you to understand more about the products they offer. All of them are happy to help you find the products you need (or even those you didn’t know they existed). Jeetendra, New Bombay Market’s owner, explained on our tour the medicinal properties of his produce, such as a bitter melon (also known as bitter gourd or karela in India), which is a multivitamin fruit typically used for various stomach and intestinal disorders, deep skin infections, and wounds.
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You will find products that didn’t know they have!
According to the international students and others who have traveled around the world, these stores have hard to find foods. And we are lucky to have them in the Square! They were excited to see the stuff they normally ate in Latin America, India, or Asia. Cans of hominy corn to cook Mexican pozole, or guarana and acai drinks produced in Brazil. Even regular customers are often surprised by the amazing variety of new products to be found in these markets’ shelves.
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You will learn more about your community
Tour participants in New Bombay Market.
Support local small business and meet local shop owners from different walks of life. In the market tour you will meet great community members. Pokye, the owner of Reliable Market, is always busy. She still took the time to kindly explain to us the different sake styles and brands. She also invited us to Friday’s tastings, where they offer sake, beer, and snacks. At La Internacional Nora, the business owner, welcomed us to her store, and talked in Spanish with those that wanted some practice. Most of the business owners are always in their store, which have been open for decades ago offering a wealth of culinary delights to our community.
Market Tour Dates
Tues. March 22nd, 6:30p.m. – 8:00p.m.
Sat. April 9th, 1:00p.m. – 2:30p.m.
Tues. April 19th, 6:30p.m. – 8:00p.m.
Thur. May 12nd, 6:30p.m. – 8:00p.m.
Sat. May 28th, 1:00p.m. – 2:30p.m.
For more information and to sign up to our tours, send an email to: martinez.mmariafernanda@gmail.com
