...uh...that boat has sailed quite some years ago. The North End has been an Epcot-center type Italian theme park for the last 20 or so years (relative to what it was earlier in the 20th century). All the cooks in so many of the quaint 'authentic' Italian restaurants are Salvadoran. The next stage for them would be something like this:
http://www.bostonglobe.com/business/2013/06/29/will-gated-cities-follow-luxury-condos/osBfU0BRj9U5Skto2TtH0H/story.html

I bet those Salvadorean cooks

By anon on Mon, 07/01/2013 - 12:24am.

I bet those Salvadorean cooks can cook way better than you ever will in your ignorant life.

uhmm...

By John-W on Mon, 07/01/2013 - 8:39am.

Exactly what do you think my attitude towards Salvadoran cooks are?

The comment was about "authentic" ethnic experiences in "authentic" ethnic neighborhoods that are nothing like what their reputation is based on. If you went to a papusa place in Eastie because it's like being back in Chalatenango and all the cooks were actually Korean would you really be feeling it? You might enjoy the food, but the point is about the experience of the North End as an "Italian" neighborhood when it is in fact now an over-priced "Italian-themed" gimmick. There ain't no 'Ant-any' being called home for spaghetti dinner on Wednesday nights any more. The cooks being Salvadoran (and whether they can or cannot cook) has nothing to do with it. (I've also been served by Salvadoran wait-staff in Chinatown!)

So as far as ignorant goes....you take that back. I'll trade you for reading comprehension.

Seriously

By bosguy22 on Mon, 07/01/2013 - 9:06am.

What John-W said is true about the North End being epcot-y. There are VERY few if any places in the north end that I'd say are "authentic", though I wouldn't it has anything to do w/the nationality. Go to any 4 star french restaurant in New York and all the cooks are South American, not French. What kills the authentic experiences in the North End, is people want "american" Italian food. Cheesy chicken parm, pizza w/pineapple, etc. There are some very good spots (Prezza, Bricco, Antico Forno), but overall, the best Italian restaurants are not in the North End.

It's sad that the bakery is closing, but I'm guessing a small place that, that's off the beaten path and doesn't do much in terms of advertising/promotion hasn't been doing well for some time. Adapt or die....sometimes that's a good thing, and sometimes it's painful (as is this case...everything I've ever had there has been amazing).

Boschetto's

By anon on Sun, 06/30/2013 - 10:03pm.

The North End sold out like South Boston.
The tourist and yuppies now go to Mike's just because there is a line. Ask any real old timer from the North End about Boschetto and their stone ovens.
A friend thought they were being nice and brought me a ricotta pie from the Hanover St place and it ended up in the trash. Another sad day for the North End.:(

Ooof Mike's....

By a-non-e-nonny on Sun, 06/30/2013 - 10:55pm.

All their cookies come from Perkins Supply, from a company called Silver Lake Cookies (http://www.silverlakecookie.com/). Get them at Mike's, get them at Stop & Shop - they are the McDonalds French fry of the cookie world: the same no matter where you get 'em.

Just like how Whole Foods gets some of their tarts and small pastries from Pearl River Pastry (http://www.prpastry.com/).

I would go to Boschetto's...

By Colin on Mon, 07/01/2013 - 9:12am.

But they have lousy products. I've been in the North End for four years (I may be guilty of being a yuppie), and I tried out all the bakeries. In my opinion as a life long bread liver, if you're a bakery you should have good bread. If all you serve are pastries, you're a pastry shop, not a bakery.

Boschetto's is really, incredibly awful on the bread end. Flavorless, empty and with a terrible crumb. A step down from what most grocery stores offer. Bova's is only slightly better. Thankfully Bricco Panneterria opened up, and damn is that bread good. Historical importance isn't enough to keep a place in business. You also have to actually do business. I went into Boschetto's multiple times and there was simply no one there. I waited around for five minutes and no one showed up. After a while I left, and the I stopped trying.