This was the inaugural year of Soup Du Jur, Chilliwack’s late winter soup event, in support of the charitable organization: Bowls of Hope. This non-profit is dedicated to making and serving over 1.100 nutritional bowls a day for children and families in need. 80 tickets were sold at around $30 a ticket. I thought this highly affordable considering how much soup you get and what it is going to support.
On this day, 6 local caters have gathered to showcase their favourites creations. Six bowls of soup, each with its own consistency, flavour profile, and character. Some with sides, some ate more like an entree with rice or beans, and there was one that was even a dessert soup.
Held within Distinct 1881’s event space: The Grand Hall. There were a couple of seated tables by the window and a few more standing only high tops to claim. You could go around the room booth by booth trying everything one at a time. Or did like we did and gather one of each to try them all? and then go back for our favourites. The following is the order in which we had each bowl, and our notes.
Fresh Impressions Catering prepared a Cream of Corn Soup with kernels of Grilled Corn bobbing about. Topped with Local Bacon, Cilantro Lime Crema, Parsley Cilantro Oil, and Cilantro as edible garnish. And served with a mini buttered Honey Jalapeno Cornbread cupcake.
I enjoyed the globbier texture of the soup with the pops of sweetness from the bits of corn. I felt the latter really made the soup and I was able to get a couple in each spoonful. However, I still would have liked more corn flavour, given that this was “corn soup” and I got more of the herbs used instead. I would have also liked more bacon for a nice crunch, and its saltines to highlight the bowl. The cornbread side offered a nice break and a clever substitution instead of bread or crackers, which is more commonly seen with soups.
Graze by Gunther’s had prepared a Hearthside Chicken & Mushroom Bisque and paired with a bite of House-Made Landjäger (which is similar to a creamy andouille sausage). This was a pot of slow-simmered bisque with tender chicken meat, earthy mushrooms, and fresh herbs. They were proud to share that their soup was built on house-made stock and finished with cream. It reminded me of the soupy version of chicken pot pie filling. Therefore I would have loved some baked crust as a side to further this familiar flavour profile.
Wild Forger Catering were the only ones to do a dessert inspired Soup out of Roasted Butternut Squash and crowned the bowl with a Cinnamon Maple Creme Brulee Tart. The lot of it was finished with Spiced Candied Pecan, Rainbow Micro Greens, and Toasted Pumpkin Seeds. It gave me sweet potato and yam casserole for a nutty and seasonally fall feel. This won for best presentation and certainly the most original.
Restaurant 62 had a Roasted Farmer Sausage and White Bean Bisque topped with White Bean Salsa Vierge Cornbread Crumbs, and Extra Virgin Olive Oil. I am normally not a fan of beans due to the gritty texture, but here, blended smooth it was a lovely dense mouthful. Like the bean paste you get in taco, but more like a spreadable. The crunch crumb was an especially nice texture add-on. All around this was one of my favourites.
Platable Catering had their soup more like a meal with a side of rice. This is their take on Cajun Chicken & Andouille Sausage Gumbo. They described this as authentic Louisiana-style gumbo, served on a bed of rice. It ate more like a chunky stew than a soup you could sip. There was heat, but not a lot of spice. Tasty, but not what I think of if you tell me “soup”.
And last, but not least Roll N Coal BBQ Catering did a savoury Smoked Butternut Squash soup with coconut cream and a chicken stock base. The squash was smoked over the grill for an added char quality. The soup as thick as a bisque with plenty of warming spices. This was finished with their homemade sourdough infused with basil oil with fresh churned herbed butter, perfect for dipping into.
In short this was a fun way to have a meal and support a good cause.
The Grand Hall
45939 Thunderbird Ln #201,
Chilliwack, BC V2P 0J6
(604) 997-3213
thegrandhall.ca
