Boston Food Concept on What Makes Boston Special

One of the things that makes the Boston food scene so special is the diversity in cuisine, and Sebastian Miranda from @boston.food.concept has more than a few recommendations up his sleeve. Miranda has spent the last several years exploring Boston neighborhoods in search for the best the city has to offer. Thanks to these experiences, he’s grown a successful Instagram following. Read on to hear about some of his favorite spots around town as well as his best tips for taking a super like-worthy Insta pic.

Tell us a little about yourself. How’d you end up in Boston, and what inspired you to create your Instagram account?

I was actually born and raised in Ecuador, a country in South America, so my native language is Spanish. After graduating from high school, I moved to Worcester, MA to do my undergrad in Civil Engineering at Worcester Polytechnic Institute. After I graduated, I moved to Boston to start my new job and I’ve been here since! I’ve always had a passion for food and cooking, and seeing that I was going out to eat so much around the city, I wanted to show people all the great food Boston has to offer. I also wanted to show more of the small businesses in the area and the great Latin restaurants that you can find around here!

What makes the Boston restaurant scene special?

I think what makes Boston food so special is all the different cultural influences we have. I feel you can find food from all around the world so there is always something for every occasion and mood. I also like that there are new restaurants opening all the time, and they always have something unique and exciting to look forward to.

Name the top five dishes on your Boston food bucket list.

It’s so hard to just name 5 but I’ll give it a try:
1. BLT Lettuce Wraps at Little Donkey, but with lamb bacon. Just a fantastic dish.
2. Sesame Encrusted Feta at Committee. Might be a little biased here but I really like their feta with honey.
3. Ceviche Mixto at Machu Picchu. One of my favorite Latin dishes, and Machu Picchu does it pretty well.
4. Hainan Chicken Arancini at Cloud & Spirits. If you love Arancini, this one’s for you.
5. Basil Pasta at Alden & Harlow. Probably one of the best pasta dishes I have tried in Boston.

What do your friends and family think of your life as an influencer?

My friends and family have been very supportive since the beginning. They are always curious about my food account and all the different foods I get to try. Plus sometimes they get some of the perks! I am not going to lie, it as a bit weird at the beginning, but now I can’t think of going out to a restaurant without taking pictures and posting them.

What’s your food photography philosophy, and can you share your top tips for taking awesome food photos?

Light, light, light! That’s your key for a great picture. Also, clean your camera’s lenses, you’ll be surprised! If you are taking pictures at night or dark places, try to add some additional light before taking the picture; you can use an external light or another phone’s flashlight. I always take pictures with my camera app but then use a few different tools/apps to edit. Adobe Premiere Rush is great for editing videos, while Adobe Lightroom is great for editing pictures. Both have free options!

What advice would you give someone just starting out as an influencer?

Keep posting! It can be reels, pictures, stories but you have to do it consistently. It can sometimes be discouraging but just keep doing it and have fun! You will see your account grow in no time. Also, check your analytics for the best times to post and to check which of your posts are doing well.

Which Boston restaurants and chefs are nailing it on social?

  • @CrazyGoodKitchen with their impressive marketing campaign.
  • @lifealivecafe with their cool spots and amazing food. I love the idea behind their restaurants and their food.
  • @greco with the best gyros in town.

Beyond chefs, what are your top three favorite food Instagram accounts to follow?

I am really enjoying the content from @bostonfoodbae, @discover.boston, and @617bites. They are
always going to some great places and I feel they have a great way to share the food they get with their audience.

Favorite spot that everyone should try once: Little Donkey in Cambridge

Favorite place to splurge: Barcelona

Favorite brunch spot: Cafe Luna

Favorite pizza joint: Arams #2 (A small business in Cambridge. I love their pepperoni pizza.)

Favorite neighborhood for food: That’s a tough one, but I would say Kendall/Central Area

Favorite spot to take visitors from out of town: Carmelina’s in the North End. Try to sit at the bar if you can.

Favorite foodie book or movie: I really enjoy Somebody Feed Phil on Netflix and if you want a great book to learn about food and cooking try Salt, Fat, Acid and Heat by Samin Nosrat.

You may also be interested in