Jody Adams

Chef, Co-Founder, & Philanthropist

Porto & Trade

"There is so much to love about the Boston restaurant industry, from the fearless grit of young innovative chefs to the staying power of veteran establishments and the recent arrivals of larger restaurant groups. But what excites me most about Boston today is the vibrancy and culinary variety of neighborhood restaurants."

Photo of Jody Adams, owner of Trade and Porto.
Food at Trade

 

Chef Jody Adams' work is guided by the priorities of working with people, working with food, and building a community every day. Jody’s priorities and passions have not only driven her long career in the kitchen but have shaped her philanthropic work, impacting communities near and far.
 
Working with partners Eric Papachristos and John Mendez, she’s growing new, innovative concepts in Mediterranean dining. The team opened TRADE in 2011, which serves elegant, Greek-inspired cuisine steeped in the warmth and comfort of that region. In 2016, they opened the first of three Saloniki restaurants, offering fast-casual, locally sourced, scratch-made food, as well as Porto, serving coastal Italian fare. Jody graduated from Brown University with a degree in anthropology, but a chance meeting with Julia Child and Sara Moulton sent her to work for Lydia Shire at Seasons, where she spent 4 years cooking on the line, then 3 years as sous chef for Gordon Hamersley at Hamersley’s Bistro. Her next move was to Michela’s as executive chef under Michela Larson. These experiences prepared her to open Rialto, where she spent 22 years before closing the restaurant in 2016. 

Jody is committed to the philanthropic work she does at the local, national, and international levels. The organizations she supports focus on health and food insecurity, environmental stewardship, and restaurant and restaurant workers’ viability and security. She has long associations with the Greater Boston Food Bank, the Women’s Lunch Place, and Share Our Strength/No Kid Hungry. She has biked in the Pan-Mass Challenge for over 10 years, and in 2010, donated her winnings on Top Chef Masters to Partners in Health, where she is a trustee. In 2020, she helped found Massachusetts Restaurants United to advocate for restaurants, their workers, and to support legislation in response to COVID-19. 

Accolades/Awards:  

  • James Beard Award 1997, Best Chef Northeast (5x Nominee)

  • James Beard Foundation ‘Who’s Who’ List 2018

  • 2010 Humanitarian of the Year for Women’s Lunch Place 

Restaurants

  • 780 Boylston Street
  • (617) 536-1234

Porto Boston is your coastal oasis in the heart of Back Bay. James Beard Award Winning Chef Jody Adams, along with Executive Chef Amarylis Colon, prepare Coastal Italian dishes that will transport you to the Riviera. Fresh oysters, handmade pasta, and so much more! Outdoor dining…

  • 540 Atlantic Avenue
  • (617) 451-1234

Trade Boston is a Greek restaurant inspired by coastal Mediterranean flavors. James Beard Award Winning Chef, Jody Adams, offers a menu of innovative and re-imagined Greek flavors.

Boston's Culinary Leaders

From James Beard Foundation award-winning chefs to a Food & Wine "Sommelier of the Year" and family-owned farms to up-and-coming restaurateurs, we have a unique flair to share.

Request a Media Kit

Boston is known for many things — American history, innovation, championship sports, and its iconic harbor. We're here to introduce another one. Request a culinary media kit today.