S.O.U.P.S.: Seattle's Own Undeniably Perfect Soups Review

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(More customer reviews)Hopvine has some of Seattle's best lunches, in my opinion, with hearty, healthy sometimes-vegetarian fare that goes way WAY beyond "pub food." The seasonal wasabi spring salad is to die for, and the artichoke/gouda sandwich is fantastic. Don't get me started on the soups: the amazing chilled strawberry soup in the summer, the creamy potato leek with lavender in the winter, the miso soup that's more like a meal.
And now, imagine my delight to see that Hopvine's chef, Michael Congdon, has released a whole book full of his amazing soups! Michael has an amazing concept of taste...once, when I sat by myself sipping his vichyssois, he came by my table and whispered conspiratorially "the taste will really pop with a little of this hot sauce." I do not like hot sauce. I lean towards un-spicy food and had never (seriously: NEVER EVER) added hot sauce to anything. But the way Michael suggested it, I figured I'd give it a shot. Just a tiny little dot of hot sauce on the top of the cold, creamy soup. And that tiny dot totally transformed the soup. There were many more dots after that, and I learned to trust Michael's advice absolutely.
And now there's this book! The whole first chunk is all about spices and tools, and might seem old hat for experienced chefs, but for culinary dullards like myself, it's sheer genius. And the soups! Dear god. I cannot wait to try some of these. Bonus: there are salad, cookie, and other non-soupy recipes in the back.

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The soup du jour at the Hopvine Pub could be Crab Bisque, Cold Strawberry, Moroccan Lentil, or Nigerian Yam. If it has warmed the hearts and touched the souls of the pub's trendy patrons, it's in this overflowing recipe book categorized by seasons. Chef Michael Congdon takes soup lovers from spring to winter with inspired combinations: Curried Avocado; Fuji Apple and Gorgonzola; and Cauliflower with Pancetta and Orange are just a few. He infuses even the basics (French Onion, Potato Leek, Minestrone) with his fresh, innovative style. Also included are recipes for accompanying sandwiches (Smoked Gouda and Marinated Artichoke), salads (Spring Fruit Salad with Wasabi Lime Vinaigrette), and desserts (Uber Brownies).

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