When we woke the other morning, Le Forkette told us it was officially 17 degrees colder than it was the day before. And after we wept, we got proactive. What’s a Fork to do when they’re cold and hungry? Soup, you stupid bunch of jerks. Soup. Where do we get this soup? Places!
Oh, sure, we’ve been known to throw our own soup together, but that was in the old days when we had the time and wherewithal to do things. Now, though, we just pick it up when we’re feeling soupy, and we’ve got suggestions for some of our favorites around town. We’d love to hear your faves, too, but throw these on your list for the next time you’re feeling soupy.
Mushroom Stew @Vinaigrette
Technically a stew, yes, but with a medley of forest, button and porcini mushrooms, this varied and vegan concoction hits all the right notes in terms of fighting cold and feeling fed. It also takes some of the sting out of losing Backstreet Bistro a couple years back in all of its Hungarian mushroom soup glory.
Hungarian Mushroom Soup @New Santa Fe Baking Co.
Speaking of that Hungarian mushroom soup, the recipe made its way over the to the New Santa Fe Baking Co. Order that up with a croissant on the side? Brilliant—and local as hell, too.
Turkey Tortilla Soup @Sweetwater Harvest Kitchen
We don’t know if you know that we don’t eat meat, but we don’t. Still, co-workers SWEAR by this hearty turkey number with black beans, creamy corn and a topping of avocado and tortilla chips.
Green Chile Stew AND Cold Raspberry Soup @The Shed
Like we said, we don’t eat meat, but in the days when we did, and when it was cold, the green chile stew at The Shed has very few competitors what with its perfect and fabled chile and its delicious pork (yes, we remember that pork is delicious). As a bonus, we’re mentioning the summer-only cold raspberry soup with sour cream, rosé and lime. It’s refreshing!
Rasam @Paper Dosa
Everyone loves Paper Dosa, and everyone either already loves or is gonna love its Rasam, a gluten-free and vegan number with blended lentils, cilantro, tomatoes and a blend of spices. The online menu says it’s also known as “fire broth,” and we’re DOWN, especially as it gets colder.
Curried Black Bean and Sweet Potato Soup @Jambo Café
Longtime fans of chef Ahmed Obo’s wildly popular eatery are probably thinking “Duh!” right about now as we mention this delicious (and vegetarian) soup. It’s served with a fresh pita!
Whatever They’ve Got @Chocolate Maven
We’ve never had a soup from the rotating of-the-day list we didn’t love at the Maven, including a carrot ginger that was good hot AND cold and a creamy corn chowder with green chile. We admit, it’s been a minute since we souped it up over there, so we can’t promise they’re still doing those things, but given the track record of the old days, we bet whatever’s being served is good.
French Onion Soup @The French Pastry Shop
An absolute classic done exactly the way you want. Y’know, people minimize the value of getting EXACTLY what one wants to eat, but if you’ve got the hankering for an oniony French guy, this is that guy.
Potato Leek @Marquez Deli
Despite a box on the website announcing it will begin offering a new daily menu starting Nov. 3 (that’s soon!), there’s no way Marquez Deli is gonna stop offering its potato leek soup, right? Please tell us they’re not! PLEASE! It’s so good, y’all. So maybe make sure if you talk to them?
Literally Everything @Mampuku Ramen
We know it’s maybe cheating reducing ramen to a soup list, but dammit, we’re doing it, and so should you. Everything we’ve ever had at Mampuku is great to the point we long for the long-closed Casa Soba restaurant. L’sigh.
There. That’s 10 recs. We like others, too, but we want to hear what soups you like, dear readers. Or not. Whatever. Just...have soup or don’t, shit.
Soon to be you...
Also
-In a statement on Facebook, Peter Chen, son of Yin Yang Chinese Restaurant’s King and Cindy Chen, says that “It is with sad news to tell you that my father, King Chen has passed away last month. My parents have served this community for over 30 years and now is the time for the next chapter as my mother will now retire.” Chen goes on to say that his cousin and her family will take over the restaurant, and that we can expect changes to the space. We’re sorry to hear this news and have always loved Yin Yang.
-We know we’re telling you super-early, but the next iteration of ArtWalk, which falls Nov. 13, is going down at CHOMP Food Hall. You seen the bar there? Outta control.
-Don’t panic yet, but our boss says he was in Felipe’s Tacos the other day and heard owner Felipe Martinez tell a customer that he might retire. We hope it’s not soon, we hope someone in his family wants to take over, we hope everyone gets those burritos and tacos while they can!
-Meanwhile, at the Four Seasons Resort Rancho Encantato’s Terra Bar, Day of the Dead celebrations are coming in hot Nov. 2. What does this actually mean? Music! Mezcal! Birria! More, probably!
More Tidbits
-Eater-dot-com’s Terrence Doyle says it’s time to ban the banquette, that boothy booth thing at restaurants that’re kind of hard to sit in and that totally disregard accessibility. He’s not wrong.
-In what is just a totally genius level of not hackneyed garbage, Krispy Kreme started calling itself Krispy Skreme (because Halloween) and kicked off some just insane looking new donuts with names like Abra Cat Dabra and Enchanted Cauldron. Basically, it’s a bunch of extra frosting that looks mildly like...Halloween things. Ask anyone—we hate fun and friendship, so this does nothing for us. Also, Winchell’s for life!
-Food & Wine spoke to a bunch of sommeliers about what their Thanksgiving wine plans might be, and if you’re looking to stick it to your terrible sister-in-law with your good taste, here’s a link to that. “Oh, sorry, Deborah—we don’t drink trash wine here,” you could say as you get drunker and meaner.
-Lastly, the journalistic champions at HuffPost worked out exactly how much candy you can eat before it turns into a whole thing. Like, a lethal thing.
WITH A FRESH PACK OF GUUUUM.
A Totally Scientific Breakdown of The Fork’s Correspondence
In this week’s print edition of SFR, certified pizza maniac Riley Gardner checked out that new pizza joint we were just telling y’all about. Check out Riley’s Door 38 write-up here.
Number of Letters Received
21
*And we DO think you should get the full-sized candy.
Most Helpful Tip of the Week (a barely edited letter from a reader)
Zilch.
*Please don’t kill us! Seriously!
Actually Helpful Tip(s)
Nada.
*Why you want to hurt us like that?
___________________________________________________
Soupily,
The Fork
