'Boston Foodies' Blogger Tiffany Lopinsky's Guide To Boston

As far as enviable hobbies go, Tiffany Lopinsky’s food blogging just might take the cake. From picking the brains of local culinary artists to conducting daring taste tests of the the latest food trends, the creator of the popular blog Boston Foodies is always going on delicious adventures throughout the city.

After graduating from Harvard, Lopinsky decided to stick around what she describes as the "charming, welcoming and community-driven" city, landing a job in business strategy at a Boston-based advertising agency and moving to Melrose. Though she describes food blogging as her creative side project, she has quickly amassed a loyal following thanks to her passion — and discerning palate.

So what's Lopinsky's all-time favorite aspect of Boston? "The community!" From the creative bloggers to the bustling food industry, Lopinsky says everyone is extremely collaborative and supportive of each other.

When she's not attending the newest restaurant openings or capturing the beauty of local eateries, you might find Lopinsky exploring the Arnold Arboretum at her alma mater or hitting the Little Donkey for a Sunday brunch with pals.

Since inspiring others to broaden their horizons is kind of her thing, we asked Lopinsky to recommend her top choices for restaurants, museums and events in Boston. Here are her must-visit spots around town:

---

Describe Boston in three words: Charming, welcoming, community-driven

What’s your favorite overall Boston restaurant? That’s such a hard question for me! I love trying new restaurants, so it’s really difficult to pick one favorite, but I’ll say that Puritan & Company in Inman Square in Cambridge is one of my all-time favorite spots. It’s the spot I always end up going to for my birthday. To me, you can just never go wrong there. L’Espalier in the Back Bay is another one of my favorites. I don’t go there as much, but the meals I’ve had there are some of my favorites of all time.

Best sushi: Cafe Sushi in Harvard Square

Best Italian food: Pammy’s in Harvard Square

Best dessert: Ice cream at Toscanini’s, or any of the plated desserts at Cultivar in Downtown Crossing

Best pizza: All Star Pizza Bar in Inman Square

Best spot for a quick lunch: Gene’s Chinese Flatbread Cafe in Downtown Crossing

Best food truck: Stoked Wood Fire Pizza

Best spot for a romantic date: Fat Hen in Somerville

Best glass of wine: Haley.Henry Wine Bar

Best spot for a Sunday brunch: Little Donkey in Central Square or Myers & Chang in the South End

Best spot for a power business meeting: Post 390 in the Back Bay

Best cup of coffee: George Howell Coffee in Downtown Crossing

Best steak: Grill 23 & Bar in the Back Bay

Best craft cocktail: Café ArtScience in Kendall Square

What hotel would you recommend for your out of town guests? The Fairmont Copley Plaza Hotel or The Colonnade Boston Hotel

Favorite shopping venue or boutique: Olives & Grace in the South End

Favorite charity event or organization: No Kid Hungry is an incredible campaign run by the organization Share Our Strength. Their mission is to end childhood hunger in the US, and they do a lot of work to get kids get healthy meals including breakfast at school, meals after school and meals during the summer when school isn’t in session. Every year, the Share our Strength team puts on an incredible event called Taste of the Nation Boston to raise money for No Kid Hungry. It’s by far my favorite food event of the year -- there’s incredible support for No Kid Hungry among the chef community in Boston. I’ve been working with the organization for years, and I’m so happy to be a part of it!

What’s the best museum or current exhibit in Boston? For me, it’s the Museum of Fine Arts Boston. They have a wonderful Takashi Murakami exhibit right now that will run until April. Their restaurants are also serving beautiful and delicious Murakami-inspired dishes.

Best historic or Boston landmark to see: The Arnold Arboretum at Harvard University

The best aspect of Boston is: The community! I think it’s so wonderful that everyone in the blogging and creative community as well as the food community are so supportive of each other. Even the chefs in Boston are always collaborating and working together on events -- it’s nice to be in a place where people are appreciating each other rather than being competitive.

Image Credit: Regan Cleminson