The Share event last week reminded me of my grandmother's soup.
Uovo goccia marinara zuppa.
I thought about my grandmother’s egg drop marinara soup the other day when I attended the “Soup’s On!” fundraising event for Share.
Share, as many know, has a mission to lead the hungry and homeless to self-sufficiency. It does that — in part — by providing food, shelter, housing and education.
And soup is part of that.
Oh, and unlike some of my political friends, being in hot water is actually a good thing when it comes to soup. But I digress.
• o o
Last Saturday, Share invited six celebrity chefs to bring their best soups to the event. Everyone at the event had an opportunity to sample them all, and then they decided the best of the best.
But, hey, since I was there I thought I’d toss out my favorite as well.
Now let me be up front here. If I had entered my grandmother’s Uovo zuppa (dramatic pause required here) it would have won. Well, at least it would have had my vote. It’s a “go to” dish for me and one of the top three things I cook. But that’s not to say the six soups at the event were chump change. They were very, very good! Frankly, I had pretty high expectations (the soups were from celebrity chefs, remember), and they were exceeded.
The popular choice — the winner — was Troy Lucio of the Hilton Vancouver Washington. He made a Tuscan Chowder with White Truffle Panzanella. For me this soup was worth having seconds.
But my favorite was from Josh Simpson of Herb N’ Roots. He made a Fall Curried Squash soup that was spiced perfectly!
For winning, Lucio got some sort of golden ladle. My guy, Simpson, gets ah, squadoosh. (Not sure if squadoosh is good in a winter soup or not. But you would love his Fall Curried Squash!)
Seriously, it was a great event and thanks for the invite.
The soup kitchen
Serving soup to those in need is not new, of course. During the Great Depression soup often meant the difference between life and death for starving families. Back then there weren’t hundreds of governmental programs to help those in need.
And here’s a little known fact: Mafia Godfather Al Capone has been credited by many for putting together one of the first soup kitchens. He began serving three meals a day to Chicagoans who had lost their jobs. Of course, he had ulterior motives. He was trying to shore up his bad image.
Churches and private charities soon followed. And the government stepped in a little later.
Why soup? Well, the answer is obvious. You could stretch the servings with water to help fill more bellies. Add a slice of bread, and it was a decent meal for anyone who was starving.
Soups today can accomplish the same goal.
But helping those in need simply does not happen unless the community gets involved to make it happen. And there are plenty of people in need.
Don’t be fooled when you regularly read stories on workers arguing about cost-of-living increases, pension benefits and pay raises. Far too many in our community wish they could have those arguments.
Instead they are worrying about where their next meal might come from.
They need help.
So check out your favorite charity. Consider giving what you can to the causes you believe in. Share’s a good one. There are many others.
And good things happen to those who give. Who knows, someday you might get a chance to taste my grandmother’s Uovo zuppa. It’s better than squadoosh. I promise you that. But there is one problem.
Once you’ve had it … you’ll never go back.
Lou Brancaccio is The Columbian’s editor.
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