Imagine cold, chilly days and nights with a wind chill below zero. What could be better than gathering with friends for a warm, comforting soup swap for the soul? It’s a chance to share rich nutrients and warm energy and, most importantly, to connect over a shared love for soups.
Soup history
Soups are one of the most popular appetizers and one of the oldest food items in history. Soups started to appear in history around 20,000 B.C. in China, but most agree that the widespread appearance of soup started somewhere between 5,000 and 9,000 years ago. In 1786, the first restaurant to serve soup was in Paris and 1897, Dr. John T. Dorrance, a chemist at the Campbell Soup Company, created the first condensed soup. Following bloggers and the internet, soup swapping became a trend in the early 2000s.
While soups are cheap, according to the Guinness World Records, Kai Mayfair restaurant in London serves the world’s most expensive bowl of soup at $190! The soup is called “Buddha Jumps Over the Wall” and contains shark fin, abalone, Japanese flower mushroom, sea cucumber, dried scallops, chicken, huan ham, pork and ginseng. Due to its unique nature, the dish must be pre-ordered 5 days before.
Soups range from a variety of flavors and techniques. Soups are primarily liquid and made by boiling vegetables and meat at a high temperature. The two types are clear or thick and hot or cold. Soup-making ingredients are readily available at the stores or farmer’s markets. Make soups by adding water or milk to canned soup, one of the easiest dishes to make in the kitchen.
Various regions have their cultural type of soup as well. For example, spicy Cajun gumbo is a popular Louisiana soup made with dark roux, vegetables, chicken, sausage, and shrimp. In New England, clam chowder is popular, made differently in various states, but is based on cream, clams, potatoes, celery, and sometimes bacon, topped with oyster crackers. Let’s not forget that chili is a soup, and its origins are from the Lonestar state, Texas!
Host a Soup Swap
Gather some friends or neighbors around and have everyone bring a different type of soup for a soup swap. Arrange a soup-making contest to be even more thrilling.
Be themed and have soups that are region-specific. For example, explore the world of Italian soups and set the theme to be all Italy. Decorate in Italian colors—green, white, and red- and have a variety of Italian breads and wines that will pair with most Italian soups. With so many delicious soul-warming Italian soups, you’ll keep the ladle ready for inevitable refills.
After everyone has enjoyed their fill of soup, it’s time for the soup swap contest. But remember, safety first! Onions and garlic, commonly used in soups, are toxic to dogs. So, if you have your furry friends around, make sure to keep the soups away from them. Instead, treat them to a safe and delicious mix of salt-free bone or chicken broth with rice, carrots and chicken.
Bon Appetite!
