The 2010 North End CityFeast at Tresca Boston

By: Finance Foodie

The North End CityFeast held this past Sunday can be summed up in two words: Charitable Gluttony. Hosted by six participating restaurants in the North End of Boston, this event was held to benefit the Joslin Diabetes Center's High Hopes Fund. Even though my stomach already received quite a workout at Beer and Bourbon Festival the day before, I am always down for supporting a good cause (and trying a new restaurant), so I threw my most acceptable-for-public pair of “fat” pants and ventured out into the night...

I arrived at Tresca, the restaurant I was to dine at, promptly at 6pm. I had sampled some wonderful morsels from Tresca before (at the Beyond Shelter Gala last year), so I was excited to enjoy a full meal at this cozy Italian eatery. Plus, I was seated by fellow blogger Richard of the Passionate Foodie – so I was doubly excited that I would be having dinner with someone equally passionate about good food as myself.

Dinner with Chef Jose Duarte of Taranta Cucina Meridonale [Boston]

By: Finance Foodie

This post marks my first entry to my Dinner with a Chef series, where I chat and dine with the chefs of my favorite restaurants. This month, I had the pleasure of speaking with Jose Duarte, chef and owner of the highly popular and award winning Peruvian-Italian restaurant Taranta Cucina Meridonale, located in the historic North End of Boston.

Finance Foodie: Jose, as you have lived and cooked all over the world (Peru, Venezuela, Philadelphia, Florida), what made you decide to open your own restaurant in Boston?

Jose Duarte: I had no doubt I would pursue a career in the food industry. I love food and always had a strong interest in ethnic cuisine, especially food that associated with culture and history. I spent pretty much my whole life in the restaurant and hospitality industry and have traveled the world from it. My wife is from Boston and an opportunity came up for me to start a business here and the rest is history!