Soup-er event warms crowds

Bowls and Books helps Meals on Wheels, Lakeside Players

BY EMILY AYSHFORD
eayshford@kenoshanews.com 
  
   Goodbye warm weather, hello cold rain — there was one place in town Wednesday where folks were happy about the overcast skies and chilly drizzle.  
    Local restaurants and caterers gathered at the Rhode Center for the Arts on Wednesday for the Seventh Annual Bowls and Books soup tasting contest to benefit Meals on Wheels and Lakeside Players.

    Crowds packed the lobby for a chance to taste and rank eight different soups, with the winner getting a plaque and bragging rights.

   For the purveyors of the creamy and brothy goodness, the fund-raiser is a chance to show off their culinary talents.

   Rita Ramacci, owner of Francine’s Fine Catering, said her tomato rice soup creation was the result of a casserole recipe that required her to drain the tomato juices.

   She added some brown rice and spinach to the mix and said, “Oh my god that’s a great soup.”

   “I do (the contest) because it’s a good event and I like to support the Rhode,” she said.

   As she peddled her mixture, she emphasized the soup’s vegetarian, dairy-free, fat-free and cholesterolfree nature.

   “I love it,” said one customer. “It’s actually a soup I can eat.”

   Bowls and Books newcomer Pazzo offered up their butternut squash soup with crispy prosciutto.

   “It’s one of our favorite recipes,” said Pazzo owner and operator Brian Campagna.

   And why did they choose to make their debut with this medley?

   “That’s our special secret,” he said.

   Campagna said they decided to participate in the event to help out local non-profits.

   “We like to support events in the area,” he said.

   But they might have drummed up a little business as well — their soup was on the top of the list for testers Gretchen Romanowski and Karin Jonsson.

   “I like this one,” Romanowski said. “It’s got a bite.”

   The two have found new eatery options through the contest — they still remember going back to Franks Diner for their Hungarian mushroom soup, which won top honors a few years back.

   But this year, Franks went with a new creation, a creamy tomato soup with grilled cheese croutons.

   “It’s nice and comforting for a day like today,” said co-owner Lynn Groleau.

   Groleau said throughout the year she asks customers which soup is their favorite, and this year they went with an old standard with a new look.

   The soup, made from fresh ingredients for a “nice, pleasing, comforting texture,” will be featured with the diner on a new Food Channel show, Groleau said.

   “There’s no comparison,” Groleau said of the soup.

    The event concluded Wednesday night with another round of restaurants offering up soups. Organizer Judy Rossow said votes will be tallied and the winners will be announced today. 

KENOSHA NEWS PHOTO BY PAUL WILLIAMS 

 Denise Diorio sports a hamburger hat as she stirs creamy tomato soup from Franks Diner during the Bowls and Books Wednesday at the Rhode Center for the Arts.