Chowdah Hunt Day #1: Free Samples = Love

Beginning this project on an empty stomach was not the way to go. Although, I will admit, it made the teeny, tiny, medicine-cup-sized chowder sample I got at Boston Chowda Co. taste that much better (not that I don't love their chowder anyways...).

Still, it was hard to resist just stopping into one of the places I was photographing and actually getting something to eat. But, I told myself, "Angela, that's for Taste Test Day." (Yes, it deserves all capital letters.)They all had that fish/lobster/melted butter/bread smell to them - just walk by a seafood place and you'll know the smell I'm talking about - and on a nice, spring-like day (no jacket needed!) it definitely made me wish I was on a beach.

That beach feeling was totally fulfilled when I got outside of Summer Shack on Dalton Street. It's right by Kings Bowling and Hynes Convention Center, off of Boylston Street. Seriously, just the outside of the restaurant made me want to put on sunglasses, lay in the sand, and have a drink with one of those little paper umbrellas.

I didn't get inside yet, but I can't wait to go back and take a peek - and try out their chowder. Just based on the outside, I've got a feeling this place is pretty fun inside (although they might play a little too much Jimmy Buffet, if I'm judging the book by it's cover). Any place that looks like it belongs on a Miami beach, but is actually on a small city street, is a-okay with me!

There's still a lot more places to be visited - and, of course, a lot more chowder to be tested - so stick around!