What's the {Zuppa di Fagioli} Soup?

There are only a (small) handful of things that I actually like about winter. For starters, I actually do like snow but it's a conditional love affair in that I only like it when it's falling, swirling around giving everything, especially trees, a crisp, white glow. This condition is furthered by the fact that I only like it when I'm inside and can admire it's beauty, preferably with mass amounts of candles lit and a glass of red in hand. If I have to be out in the snow or it spoils my plans, all bets are off. Next on my short list of wintertime likes is a big bowl of a hearty, stick-to-your gut kind of soup, something that you just can't enjoy in those warmer months. My list rounds out with other heavier fare, braises, chilies and stews, etc. but to me, a hearty bowl of soup is tops.

Still new to the South End dining scene, Cinquecento (which literally translates to "500" in Italian, which is the restaurants address on Harrison Street) is sleek to say the least. With its bold red awning and painted brick walkway, both proudly bearing the "Cinquecento" name, the attention to detail, from the catchy marketing, by way of vibrantly printed glossy menus and slim matchbooks, to the restaurant's grand staircase and uniquely shaped metal hostess stand, there's a certain chicness and sexiness to it all. The restaurant is dimly lit to "allow couples to escape for an intimate second, yet still remain part of the greater environment", boasts this eatery's website. Once we made our way to our table, a simple tea light candle and tiny terracotta ramekin filled with salt were there to greet us, along with crusty Italian bread and some good, sharp Olive Oil for dipping. 

Since the focus of the evening's visit was to sample the soup and report back for the folks at What's the Soup, I ordered the Zuppa di Fagioli ($7.50), which is a combination of Borlotti Beans, Smoked Ham and Kale. The soup arrived hot and I dug right in, dipping bits of bread into the the soup's rich and smoky broth. There was an abundance of beans and torn pieces of Kale. The soup was incredibly filling and perfectly satisfying for a chilly, winter night. Overall, I totally dug the atmosphere at Cinquecento and would happily return for a cocktail or a bite. 

What's the {Six Different Kinds Of} Soup at City Landing?

Golden Tomato Soup and Roasted Onion Bisque Duo

 "So, can I bring out a couple of soups for you?" Chef Bill Brodsky had asked when I sat down at City Landing last week. I had been sent there by What's the Soup to check out their offerings and when I smugly replied, "Bring it!" in response to Chef Brodsky's question. I had thought their special "duo of soups" ($10) was headed my way and soup spoon in hand, I was ready to dig in. And I sort of thought that's how the story would start and end, with two soups. But it didn't. Before I knew it, six (!) bowls of soup later, I was having difficulty buttoning my jeans but my stomach was happy. So let's get to the soupy details and bowl by bowl replay, shall we?

Butternut Squash Soup and Boston Clam Chowder Duo

It's obvious that there's a lot of attention to detail and it's apparent in the service and most importantly in the food. Each bowl of soup I had was carefully crafted and thoughtfully presented. I started out with a duo of Golden Tomato Soup, artfully adorned with swirls of sour cream and basil oil, and the Roasted Onion Bisque. The bisque was dressed up like a classic French Onion Soup would be but under a layer of gooey cheese and pretty little shreds of chives, to my surprise and delight, was a luxuriously creamy sweet onion puree. The Golden Tomato Soup, the Chef explained, was not regularly on the menu but this soup was so popular during the summer, there are regulars that still ask for it. For that reason, the Chef keeps a hidden reserve of this tangy puree on hand. At this point I thought that this was all the soup I'd be having so I heartily (almost) licked the bowl clean. 

The inside of City Landing 

My plate was removed and placed before me was another duo: Butternut Squash and Boston Clam Chowder. Still hungry, I polished off the Butternut Squash Soup, a hearty puree that hit all of those rich, wintery notes of cinnamon and nutmeg with another artful swirl gracing the top. While I don't care for seafood (I know, I'm a New Englander through and through and it makes no sense) I still found myself enjoying a couple spoonfuls of the creamy soup spiked with buttery diced potatoes, generous portions of clams and a fried clam resting on top. At this point, I thought for sure I was done.

Golden Beet Borscht

But then a Golden Beet Borscht arrived on the scene, garnished with fresh cabbage shreds on a Beet-Horseradish painted plate and I dug in. The flavor of the cabbage was so vibrantly bitter (and that's a compliment) in that earthy way that cabbage is, it was balanced by the natural sugars from the beets. "This one is on our regular menu", Chef explained before placing a Split Pea soup before me. "This one, is one I'm working on for the holiday menu". By now, I was over my limit but I couldn't ignore the soup, especially since Split Pea soup has a reputation for being murky this soup defied that, taking on an attractive, slight green hue and topped with crispy black pepper croutons and diced bacon. Bright flavors of pea and pork were apparent and were it not for all the soup beforehand, I would have devoured it. 

Split Pea Soup

While I had little room to sample anything else off of the menu, I can say that after the tour of soups that I took last week, great things are happening at City Landing. Should you happen to find yourself in the Waterfront area on an empty stomach, stop in for a bowl of soup. At only $6-$9 a bowl or $10 for a sampling of two, generously portioned and skillfully made, you'll be happy you did. 

What's The {Tortilla A La Mexicana} Soup?

Yesterday just may have been the very definition of the perfect soup day. It was bitterly cold out and I had the great luck of being caught in a windy, rainy mess of a storm. The freezing rain was slapping me from all directions and my jeans clung to me, soaked by the rain. We finally arrived at the dark entryway of Temazcal, one of a handful of restaurants that have taken up residence in Boston's Seaport District. The entryway, only lit by an alter of candles and a friendly hostess, helped to warm us up a bit. She guided our shivering selves through an open and spacious dining room to our table, right by a massive wall of windows sprawling out over the high tide and stormy weather. We instantly had a massive craving for a bowl of soothingly hot soup.

The folks at What's the Soup had only sent me in to check out the Sopa De Tortilla A La Mexicana ($10) but that didn't stop me from playing around on the fun iPad menu that each diner is presented with. We briefly met with Chef Todd Hall who explained that the interactive and technologically forward menu was meant to help educate diners on the menu. A good number of menu items are accompanied by not only the recipe for the dish, but the history behind it as well - which made my inner food geek happy.

Not too long after we sat down, we were presented with freshly made tortilla chips and a trio of dips- the house salsa, sweet tomatillo and black bean with queso fresco - that were presented in mini cauldrons that were resting on top of banana leaves. I found the black bean dip, a combination of smooth, spiced beans, addicting. A short time after, our soup arrived, playfully plated and piping hot.

The soup, a giant bowl of fragrantly spicy broth, arrived with four mini cauldrons of toppings - diced tomatoes, slivered fiery Serrano chilies, cubes of queso panela and thick crispy sticks of tortilla. I happily and heartily dumped my cheese into my soup along with a couple of chilies and tortilla strips. The broth itself was spiced and had a beefy quality to it and the cheese softened with the heat of the soup but still maintained its shape while the tortillas provided a very welcoming crunch to the soup.

We lingered over lunch and watched the angry waves outside lap over the docks and we fantasized about coming back on a warmer day and securing a seat on the spacious deck and enjoying a cocktail. We regretted having to brace the elements and leave but the soup bowls were empty and our day had to continue.

What's the {French Onion} Soup at Deuxave?

On a dreary and chilly Boston September day, the folks at What's the Soup sent me to check in and report back on the soup scene at Deuxave, located at the corners of Mass Ave. and Comm Ave. in Boston's Back Bay neighborhood. I hadn't had the pleasure of dining at Deuxave before and was looking forward to dipping my soup spoon into their 9-Hour French Onion Soup ($12).

When I arrived, I snagged a plush seat in their trendy bar and placed my order for the soup. Within minutes, a foiled round of creamy French butter was set before me and a warm roll that crackled when torn was all mine. It wasn't long before a crock of steaming soup was in front of me, its cheese blanketing the top and hiding the deliciously rich broth of buttery soft onions that were underneath.

Within my first few bites, it was the obvious that there was so much time and attention that went into the making of this soup. The broth had bold, beefy flavors and was skimmed thoroughly and properly throughout the cooking process, leaving a flawlessly deep, golden colored base for the abundant slivers of onions that were so soft, they (pardon the cliche) melted in my mouth. The raft of hearty bread and cheese that was dressed up with freshly snipped chives was so fully saturated by the rich broth by the time I got to it, I couldn't help but savor every last bite. The cheese was also in abundance, with playfully long strands of it running from my spoon to my bowl, this was everything I'd want my French Onion Soup to be.

I found the portion size to be a little deceiving, when it was first presented to me I thought I'd I'd be hungry afterwards but there was more in that little crock than met the eye. I left full and satisfied, but not before trying the special little treats send out by the pastry chef - a bite-sized butter cookie that was packed with buttery flavor, and a passion fruit jelly that was so soft and fruity with lots of tangy tropical flavor. So, dear readers, if you find yourself craving a classic French Onion Soup, made that way it was intended to be made, then stop in to Deuxave, grab your soup spoon and enjoy.

What's The {Pea} Soup?

This post is the first of many soup reviews that I’ll be doing as a “Souper” for the website What’s The Soup?, a site dedicated to one of my personal favorites, the humble bowl of soup. Be sure to check out their site for local and national soup news, recipes and reviews!

I hate to sound generic, but the soup at Market, located in the W hotel in the Theater District, tastes like spring in a bowl. Seriously. Labeled simply as “Green Pea Soup, Parmesan, $9” the soup comes to you via tableside presentation. When the shallow bowl of frothy Parmesan foam gets placed in front of you along with 10 (or so) baby croutons, you’re still not clued into how delicious this soup is. It isn’t until the waiter is standing above you, pouring a stream of steaming, vibrantly green soup that you get clued into the fact that this isn’t your average, run of the mill pea soup. This is something special...

To read more of this post, check out What's the Soup!