Taste FOOD FILES
GRATEFUL SPOON
Warm up with a bowl of soup, the ultimate cold weather comfort food
BY ALISON BAILIN BATZ
Roasted Crimini Mushroom Bisque
Rusconi’s American Kitchen Well beyond a basic mushroom soup, this dreamy soup starts with a cream base and handroasted cremini mushrooms, which are known for their earthy, rustic notes. Nutty San Joaquin Gold cheese, which almost tastes like white truffles, is then slowly added along with salt, pepper and spices. A garnish of chives finishes the dish. $12. www.rusconiskitchen.com.
Pork Pozole
Z’Tejas Southwest Grill Slow-cooked pork is the base for this rich, brothy soup. Spiced with garlic, cumin, habanero and guajillo peppers then combined with hominy, roasted poblano peppers and onion, the flavor profile is complex and layered. Bonus: It is complemented with a side of tortilla chips and garnished with fresh shredded cabbage, cilantro, sliced radish and lime to create a delightful mix of textures and temperatures. $9. www.ztejas.com.
Kale & White Bean Soup
Picazzo’s Hearty yet healthy (not to mention gluten-free and vegan), this beautiful bowl starts with olive oil-infused vegetable broth. An array of spices are then added slowly over time, including garlic, basil, thyme, salt and pepper, as well as diced carrots, onions and tomatoes. The key ingredients – white cannellini beans and dinosaur kale – are then added and simmered together for another several hours before serving to diners. $9. www.picazzos.com.
Italian Wedding Soup
Winter is finally here! Hurry, grab a spoon with us and dig into all of these great soups across the Valley before the temperatures start to creep back up again.
Streets of New York The name of this soup is fitting given it is the perfect marriage of ingredients. Couscous is paired with miniature meatballs and a chicken broth base in addition to tomatoes, spinach and sweet red peppers. Salt and pepper are added to taste before the dish gets garnished with freshly grated Parmesan cheese. The soup is then served with toasty garlic bread. $7.90. www.streetsofnewyork.com.
Vegan Chili
Eat Up Drive In Made from scratch daily, this vegan and gluten-free take on chili goes big when it comes to beans and copious amounts of poblano peppers, which are added low and slow into a thick, rich tomato paste-based broth. Mushrooms add an earthy, almost meaty flavor, and are joined by chunks of carrots, celery and chives. Pro tip: If you love it in a bowl, be sure to also try it atop a baked potato. $7. www.eatupdrivein.com.
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So Scottsdale! January ‘22