The Interior of Craigie on Main

The term, which many in the fine dining world agree is largely overused, conveys thoughts of the fancy and the refined. Though, the dictionary simply defines “foodie” as “a person keenly interested in food.”

Just as attending a few wine tastings won’t make you an oenophile, going out for a few fancy dinners or buying grass-fed beef won’t necessarily qualify you as a foodie. But, if you find yourself watching reality cooking shows, poring over your favorite chef’s recipes, and shopping at specialty grocery stores, it would seem that you’re at least dabbling in the ever available and attainable foodie culture.

In Boston, the foodie scene is hot. With award winning chefs cooking behind the line at a number of neighborhood joints, just “going out to dinner” is a thing of the past.

Some favorite Boston foodie haunts:

Craigie on Main, 853 Main Street, Cambridge, MA 02139

Head to the humble Craigie on Maine for a taste of Tony Maws’ ingenious culinary concoctions.   Maws, the reigning James Beard Award Winner for Best Chef in the Northeast, creates a nightly prix-fixe tasting menu–six ($95) or eight ($115) courses—that will knock your socks off.

Maws’ Pork Three Ways may be his claim to fame—but it’s the simple dishes like summer yellow squash soup, that puts Craigie on Main on it’s own culinary level. But, don’t be intimidated; the Cambridge eatery is homey and welcoming.

Erbaluce, 69 Church Street, Boston, MA 02116

The menu changes nightly at Chef Charles Draghi’s Bay Village restaurant.   Fans of dining in Boston’s North End may remember Draghi’s revered cuisine from his days cooking at Marcuccio’s.   Erbaluce’s dining room is minimalist; for Draghi’s Piemonte Italian fare does the talking.

Homemade pasta and risotto often accompany whatever’s fresh at the farmer’s market. A recent menu featured inventive dishes like braised sunflower with herbed ricotta and golden raisins, and a sea scallop crudo with lemon, olive oil, lemon thyme, lemon basil and haruki turnips. Follow Erbaluce on Twitter to see what you may be missing nightly.

Formaggio Kitchen, 244 Huron Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02138

Formaggio's Favorite Local Farms

If you want to enjoy foodie life in the comfort of your own home, gather goods worthy of a Food and Wine style dinner party at Cambridge’s Formaggio Kitchen, or stop by their city outpost, South End Formaggio. Both locations feature artisan products and gourmet goods imported from across the globe and right here in New England.   From colossal amounts of cheeses to oodles of olive oil, the increase in your grocery budget will be justified, I promise.

Coppa, 253 Shawmut Avenue, Boston, MA 02118

Be the bon vivant that you are (or want to be) at Ken Oringer and Jamie Bissonnette’s South End enoteca.   Vegetarians, close your eyes, Coppa’s offal (not awful) menu options make for a magical charcuterie plate. Try Pig’s ear terrine with yuzu aioli ($4), tripe, beef tongue and pork belly stew with mozzarella ($10) or wood oven-roasted pig’s tail with mostarda glaze ($9). The menu rounds out with choices of wood-oven pizzas and Italian small plates, making the Shawmut Avenue hideaway a cozy neighborhood go-to.

Henrietta’s Table, 1 Bennett Street, Cambridge, MA 02138

Get a real taste of New England dining on farm fresh food at Henrietta’s Table.   Located inside Harvard Square’s Charles Hotel, the restaurant’s diverse menu relies on local farms and fisherman.   Executive Chef Peter Davis is serious about freshness.   Davis was recently named “Sustainer of the Year” by Chefs Collaborative, for his emphasis on delicious, local and seasonal cuisine. From Wellfleet oysters to Ozark Mountain Grilled Smoked Pork Chops, chances are you’ve heard of the town where your food came from.

ONE would like to thank all of the photographers for kindly allowing us to use their work to accompany this article.