Here are 10 or so soups that I'll be looking for when the weather finally snaps. With one exception, all of them, to the best of my knowledge, are regular menu items, at least for the season.
As always, and until I say different, the Top 10 is less a definitive ranking than an informed, prejudicial, and opportunistic amalgamation of your suggestions, my favorites, and whatever we have a good photograph of. Here are 10 or so soups that I'll be looking for when the weather finally snaps. With one exception, all of them, to the best of my knowledge, are regular menu items, at least for the season.
French onion soup generates a lot of heat. Poster "Tman" recommends the classic version at Petit Louis in Roland Park- it's on the menu every night. What makes it so good -- for starters, veal stock. I had a nice one recently at Marie Louise Bistro in Mt. Vernon.
When it's very very cold and the hour is very late, nothing revives like the Korean fish soup mae un tang, brimming with -- best not to know. Station North's Nam Kang is the obvious choice, but I got a call from the nice lady who owns Kimco Seafood Restaurant in Ellicott City (10176 Baltimore National Pike, 410-480-1442), inviting me to drop by sometime -- so if that's closer, give it a chance.
I haven't been to the new Suburban House in Pikesville yet, but I'm thinking about how satisfying a bowl of matzo ball soup is going to be when I do.
Cream + seafood + Cindy Wolf (+ lobster bisque) = good. Garnished with a butter poached lobster tail and tarragon oil, it's on the menu now at Charleston in Harbor East.
D@L poster "Katie" stands by the malacca laksa, a curry soup with rice vermicelli, chicken, bean sprouts and fried tofu, at Chocolatea in Tuscany/Canterbury.
And "powpowpow" recommends the Thai coconut soup, with lemongrass, chicken, galanga and "magic" at Chokchai Thai (6824 Harford Rd., 410-426-3244) in Hamilton.
Oyster stew seems to taste better in Fells Point - it's this time of year when I want to give John Steven Ltd. a check-in.
Among the scattering of soup stalls and shops around time, Hampden's Soup's On gets extra points for faithfully updating its website with daily specials. Today's black lentil soup with sage oil is tempting me badly.
Over my cubicle wall, reporter John-John Williams sang me the praises of the Oceanaire Seafood Room's New England clam chowder --available at the bar all day long at the Harbor East restaurant for $2.95. Be sure to ask for the bar men, though.
I liked the tip "Lisah" gave for the green chili chicken soup at Golden West Cafe in Hampden, and I'll throw in a new menu item at Miguel's Cocina Y Cantina in Locust Point, a yummy sounding roasted corn and poblano soup.
Baltimore sun photo/Lloyd Fox