You may know of Time Out for its coverage of food, travel and culture in various media iterations, but in recent years, the London-based company has made a game-changing move: opening food halls.
In 2014, Time Out Market Lisboa opened to wild success. Billed as the world’s first editorially curated market, the Lisbon venture — which has more than 40 restaurants, food outlets, shops, spaces for cooking classes and an entertainment venue — attracts millions of visitors each year.
While Boston’s Time Out Market opening date is still in flux — rumors say spring — excitement has started to heat up. (Outposts in Miami, New York, Chicago and Montreal should be arriving soon, too.) These are the tasty details we have so far.
A Lovely Location
The highly anticipated market will occupy the historic Landmark Center building in Boston’s Fenway neighborhood, less than a 10-minute walk from the city’s century-old baseball stadium — a great addition to your next game-day itinerary.
Time Out has announced that there will be 15 restaurants and food stalls, two bars, a demonstration kitchen and a shop. Local artwork will add to the ambiance as will plenty of patios for alfresco dining.
Talented Toques
Foodies can look forward to eating on real china with metal cutlery — no paper plates here — from several top chefs. The market has already tapped some of Boston’s biggest names to headline the novel concept.
The list reads like a who’s-who of the Hub’s culinary elite: James Beard Award-winning chef and restaurateur Michael Schlow, long a powerhouse in Boston, has signed on, as have fellow toques Tim Cushman and his wife, Nancy (a sake specialist), of Asian venues O Ya and Hojoko Japanese Tavern fame, and Tony Maws from Craigie on Main.
“We were already fans of Time Out,” Nancy Cushman said. “We have also been interested in fast casual for a while, and this seems like the right timing and opportunity. And we are also already a part of the Fenway community and the major redevelopment and re-energizing of the area and neighborhood being led by Steve Samuels [of Samuels & Associates]. He’s a visionary.”
Creative Cuisine
Most of the plans are kept tightly wrapped, but these are a few of the tasty tidbits you can expect:
Maws will open a burger bar, offering creative variations on his wildly famous Craigie on Main Burger.
Schlow should dazzle with a yet-to-be-announced Italian concept.
The Cushmans will run two kitchens at the market, both with an Asian concept.
Tasting Counter owners Peter and Ginhee Ungár will incorporate their zero-carbon footprint, 50 percent local ingredients and 100 percent natural foods ethos — the same mantra that earned their Somerville restaurant critical acclaim — to their spot at the market.
“When the Time Out Market team approached us,” Peter Ungár said, “Ginhee and I were immediately intrigued. Their idea of bringing a curated collection of world-class dining, drinking and cultural experiences to Boston was exciting, and we were thrilled to be a part of it. Boston may be a small city, but it has a dynamic history and an incredible spirit of innovation and diversity.”
Anoush’ella, another favorite around town, also will be represented, with owners Nina and Raffi Festekjian cooking dishes focused on Eastern Mediterranean flavors, like lentil kofta wraps and baba ghanoush.
Finally, Union Square Donuts will serve sweet treats to its more-than-loyal fans and new converts.
As the opening gets closer, more names will be announced. Considering Time Out Market Lisboa’s success, we can’t wait to see what else is in store.
