MassBay Professor Brings Quincy Food Tour to Life

MassBay Community College Associate Professor of Hospitality Management Roberta Allison poses on the Off the Beaten Path Food Tour, Quincy, MA March 2026 (Photo / Roberta Allison).

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Liz Cooper
ecooper@massbay.edu

WELLESLEY HILLS, Mass., (April 9, 2026) — MassBay Community College Associate Professor of Hospitality Management Roberta Allison has created a new Quincy-based food tour for Off the Beaten Path Food Tours, bringing together the city’s rich history and diverse culinary scene in an engaging, immersive experience.

A longtime Quincy resident, Allison designed The Quincy Presidential Food Tour as a way to share her love for the city while highlighting its historical significance and locally loved eateries. The tour celebrates Quincy’s identity as the “City of Presidents,” the birthplace of U.S. presidents John Adams and John Quincy Adams, as well as the home of America’s first commercial railway and the original Dunkin’ Donuts, founded in 1950.
“Quincy is known as the ‘City of Presidents’ because it is the birthplace of John Adams and John Quincy Adams, but it is also a city with deep maritime roots and a fascinating food history,” Allison said. “This was a natural intersection of American history and great food, making it the perfect place for a food tour.”

Allison has been teaching hospitality management at MassBay since 2017 and also works as a guide for Off the Beaten Path Food Tours, offering locals and visitors a taste of Boston, Cambridge, and now Quincy. She brings that real-world experience directly into the classroom, where students in her tourism and hospitality courses are inspired by the tours as part of their coursework.

“One of the final projects for my students is to create their own food tour based on their hometowns,” Allison said. “They are incredibly creative, and it is wonderful to see them apply what they have learned in such a hands-on, meaningful way.”

The Quincy Presidential Food Tour runs Sundays from noon to 2 p.m. and blends history, culture, and cuisine. Along the route, guests explore historic streets and landmarks, including the final resting place of Presidents John Adams and John Quincy Adams and their wives, while sampling dishes from some of Quincy’s most distinctive local dining spot.

With its rich historical legacy and growing reputation as a foodie destination, Quincy offers visitors a unique way to experience the past and present through storytelling and flavor.
Allison added, “History, food, and storytelling come together in one unforgettable afternoon on the Quincy Presidential Food Tour.”

MassBay Community College is the most affordable higher education option in MetroWest Boston and is free to most Massachusetts residents without a bachelor’s degree. With more than 70 associate degree and certificate programs, along with comprehensive workforce and educational training, MassBay provides a wide range of courses with flexible day, evening, and weekend classes in Wellesley, Framingham, the Automotive Technology Center in Ashland, and online, in high-demand fields including health and life sciences, computer science, engineering, cybersecurity, business, and the humanities. MassBay students receive unparalleled value, with free one-on-one academic and social support services, compassionate and experienced faculty, and stackable credits that easily transfer to bachelor’s degree programs and that provide hands-on, workforce-ready skills. Health sciences, human services, early childhood education, and many general education programs are offered at the 65,000 square foot, state-of-the-art MassBay Framingham, which has served the community since January 2024. Founded in 1961, MassBay has been accredited by multiple governing bodies and remains dedicated to serving its diverse communities, fostering inclusiveness, and advancing equity for all.