Austin’s Great Soups: A Winter Necessity
Is it cold enough for you, Austin? This ridiculously frigid weather has only one redeeming quality. It drives us toward steaming hot bowls of great soups, many of which are available here in the River City. Here are some of my top recommendations:
THE CREAMY PEPPER SOUP AT THE PIZZA CAVE
Highly recommend this one. Owner Joe Cave has toned down the heat but preserved the flavor, perfect for a cold day. A complement to this is his stellar Piggy Chowder. Think about a New England style Clam Chowder without the clams and ground sausage instead.
THE SHRIMP PHO AT HAO-Q ASIAN KITCHEN
This is Vietnamese bliss. Steamy and savory and it will heat up the coldest night.
THE CORN AND SHRIMP BISQUE AT CHEZ ZEE
A terrific soup for a frigid day or night. The bisque is thicker than most but delightful heat resonates throughout.
THE CLAM CHOWDER AT CAFE BLUE
The flavor of this soup smacks of the best of Boston which is exactly where chef Ben Nathan perfected his craft. We always go for the bowl, or hell … maybe two. This is the perfect antidote for the wintry blahs.
THE LOW COUNTRY SHE CRAB SOUP AT STEINER RANCH STEAKHOUSE
This recipe comes the coastal areas of South Carolina and it’s long been one of our favorites. Try it and see if you don’t agree.
THE CHICKEN AND MATZO BALLS SOUP AT BIDERMAN’S DELI
I have long been an advocate of the so-called Jewish penicillin otherwise known as chicken and matzo balls soup. Not only can it be the cure for what may ail you but it is often a lifesaver on nasty cold days. Biderman’s Deli has nailed this soup since the day they opened over three years ago. Go there now!
THE SEAFOOD GUMBO AT EVANGELINE CAFE
This is a gumbo for the ages with a dark roux that throws off a bit of heat and packs a powerful flavor punch.
Talk about a great soup for when the temperature dips?
This is it folks. This is it!
THE HOT AND SOUR TAIWANESE SEAFOOD SOUP AT CHINATOWN WESTLAKE
This is from the fertile mind of Chef Ronald Cheng. In his many travels through the Far East searching for new ways to brighten up his menu offerings, Ronald came back with a recipe for this cold weather smash. It blends the classic hot and sour Thai stylings with crab and scallops. It’s irresistible and enough to redden your face just a bit. My list would not be complete without it!
