A James Beard Award winner and mentor to many, Jody Adams has been a fixture on Boston’s culinary scene for decades, but stasis isn’t her style. Having opened her second restaurant, glittery Greenway hotspot Trade, in 2011, the chef/restaurateur departed her beloved fine-dining flagship Rialto in 2016 after a 22-year run to open Back Bay Mediterranean eatery Porto and casual Greek sandwich shop Saloniki, which now boasts buzzing locations in both Fenway and Cambridge. The latter fastcasual venture might initially seem like a surprising move to diners who savored Rialto’s signature slowroasted duck, but she’s brought similarly thoughtful sourcing and depth of flavor to a counter-service context at very palatable price points. And don’t expect her to slow down. In addition to lending her time to causes like Partners in Health, speaking at industry happenings like Boston’s inaugural Food Tank Summit and presiding over a summer pop-up at the Chatham Bars Inn, Adams has been scouting neighborhoods for future Saloniki outposts. “Be on the lookout for some new locations in 2018!”
“Julia Child. I first met her when I was in college. She was doing a demo as a fundraiser for Planned Parenthood, and I volunteered. Years later, I met her again and she directed me to apply for a job with Lydia Shire [another influence]. I learned to do what Julia told me to do. At a time when there weren’t many women with a public presence in the food world, Julia stood out as an example of what and who I could be. … She taught me the importance of treating all people with attentiveness, respect and generosity— to love what you do, to have fun and to not let anything get in your way.”
The Leader Board
Who inspires Boston’s movers and shakers? Ten local talents making a mark in their fields tell us who influenced them along the way.
By Alexandra Cavallo | Photo Credit: Ken Rivard | Aug. 4, 2017
Jody Adams
A James Beard Award winner and mentor to many, Jody Adams has been a fixture on Boston’s culinary scene for decades, but stasis isn’t her style. Having opened her second restaurant, glittery Greenway hotspot Trade, in 2011, the chef/restaurateur departed her beloved fine-dining flagship Rialto in 2016 after a 22-year run to open Back Bay Mediterranean eatery Porto and casual Greek sandwich shop Saloniki, which now boasts buzzing locations in both Fenway and Cambridge. The latter fastcasual venture might initially seem like a surprising move to diners who savored Rialto’s signature slowroasted duck, but she’s brought similarly thoughtful sourcing and depth of flavor to a counter-service context at very palatable price points. And don’t expect her to slow down. In addition to lending her time to causes like Partners in Health, speaking at industry happenings like Boston’s inaugural Food Tank Summit and presiding over a summer pop-up at the Chatham Bars Inn, Adams has been scouting neighborhoods for future Saloniki outposts. “Be on the lookout for some new locations in 2018!”
Who influenced you?
“Julia Child. I first met her when I was in college. She was doing a demo as a fundraiser for Planned Parenthood, and I volunteered. Years later, I met her again and she directed me to apply for a job with Lydia Shire [another influence]. I learned to do what Julia told me to do. At a time when there weren’t many women with a public presence in the food world, Julia stood out as an example of what and who I could be. … She taught me the importance of treating all people with attentiveness, respect and generosity— to love what you do, to have fun and to not let anything get in your way.”
8 of 10
NextView All Events
Related Articles
Boston's Brightest Stars
The sky’s the limit for these 10 movers and shakers...
Thoughts on Sox D-Day
How Boston positioned itself for the future...
Celtics' Gamble Not Worth Taking
Love in the Time of Tinder
A singleton braves Boston’s digital dating scene...
Flagged for Approval
The Craigslist Ad That Won the Internet...
Silver Fox
The original Connecticut casino ups the ante...
Ready, Set, Glow
Chances are, by this time of the season, your otherwise reliable beauty routine is leaving you feeling a little lackluster...
Product Inquiry
A Peek Inside the Cosmetics Cases and Carryalls of Four Local Celebrities...