Prudential Center

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In celebration of Women’s History Month, meet one of Boston’s most esteemed chefs… Jody Adams! She is the two-time James Beard Award Winning Chef and Co-Founder of Porto (adjacent to Prudential Center), as well as of Trade at Atlantic Wharf!

Jody graduated from Brown University with a degree in anthropology, but a chance meeting with Julia Child and Sara Moulton sent her to work for Lydia Shire at Seasons, where she spent 4 years cooking on the line, then 3 years as sous chef for Gordon Hamersley at Hamersley’s Bistro. Her next move was to Michela’s, as executive chef under Michela Larson. These experiences prepared her to open Rialto, where she spent 22 years before closing the restaurant in 2016.

Working with partners Eric Papachristos and John Mendez, she’s growing new, innovative concepts in Mediterranean dining. The team opened TRADE in 2011, which serves elegant, Greek-inspired cuisine steeped in the warmth and comfort of that region. In 2016, they opened the first of three Saloniki restaurants, offering fast-casual, locally sourced, scratch-made food, as well as Porto, serving coastal Italian fare.

Porto is a high-energy Mediterranean seafood restaurant, offering a modern Mediterranean take on seafood, primarily drawn from New England waters and embracing regional seasonality. Before your reservation at Porto, get to know Chef Jody a bit more below!

What makes you “feel good” when cooking/creating a welcoming environment for guests?

I love creating something unexpected yet familiar for our guests like a dish that touches an old memory and creates a new one.  Something that makes guests feel like they’re just where they should be, enveloped or hugged by the experience—creating a story that they will take with them.

How was the Prudential Center area decided as the location to open Porto? 

We loved the idea of being right in the center of the vibrant Back Bay, surrounded by an international community of residents, travelers, shoppers and business professionals. What we didn’t anticipate was that Porto would become the heart and soul of the area for people who also live in the neighborhood. During COVID, we were open, we doubled the size of our patio, and our staff stayed — with many of them still at Porto today. Now, we are not just a neighborhood joint, we are a destination. We are known for our exceptional food and hospitality.

Favorite Porto menu item? 

I cannot choose one menu item… I always start with the local oysters and seasonal mignonette.  The fried cauliflower for the flavors that bounce — sweet and sour, salty nutty — and the deep comfort of the earthy mushroom pasta are my go to’s.  

Favorite cocktail to enjoy on The Amalfi Patio? 

I love a classic Aperol Spritz.  It’s a perfectly balanced drink for warm weather — fresh and bubbly — a little sweet and a little bitter with the bright flavor of citrus; and it inevitably transports me to the coast of Italy!

Porto offers lunch and dinner, as well as weekend brunch. They also have a Bar Bites menu available in the bar/lounge starting at 2:30pm daily as well as an Oyster Program offering specials on weekdays and weekends. Their private dining room is ideal for personal, private and business events, and their outdoor bar and patio are the perfect spot for an al fresco experience!

Photos of Chef Jody Adams courtesy of Ken Rivard and A Street Hospitality