On Saturday, March 14, the 500 block of Murdock Road, Anneslie, held their 6th Annual Souper Bowl party. If you've never attended a Souper Bowl party, it's a delicious, fun and cut-throat competition among neighbors to craft the best, most tasty soup as voted on by all in attendance. It's not for the picky eater nor the chicken noodle soup lover. There's nothing pedestrian about these soups. Eleven large crockpots all in a row, some with accoutrements like blue cheese, croutons, pumpkin seeds siting alongside them. Shot glasses to sample and bowls once you find your favorite. You won't find any chili here. You will find Andouille Sausage and Corn Chowder, Indonesian Vegetable, African Peanut, Curried Butternut and Hot and Sour.
Even the kids get involved in the tasting and voting. Although not all of the children enjoy the tasting part. When asked which soup she voted for, Audrey Buch, 6, replied, "The chicken nuggets." That aside, after the votes were tallied, three winners clearly emerged.
In the Kids' Choice category, this year's winning soup as voted on by children 16 and under was the Saffron Tomato with a Hint of Jackson 5 by Eric Fleiss. The Most Unusual category winner this year was John Buch with his Roasted Pistachio. Yes, you read that correctly — a soup made from pistachios, which was delightful and could easily be eaten as a soup or a tasty ice cream topping (in my opinion). And this year's Best Soup champion, her second win (the first time anyone has won a second time), Sarah Achenbach with a Sweet Potato and Rosemary soup that honestly tasted like Thanksgiving in a bowl!
What is the prize for the winner? In addition to bragging rights for the year, the Best Soup winner receives the coveted Silver Ladle Plaque to hang proudly in her home for an entire year. On the back of the plaque are the names and years of each winner since the competition began. Congratulations, Sarah, on the win. But friends in the 500 block of Murdock, I have spoken to my neighbors and we officially challenge you to a Souper Bowl Soup Off. It's on. Try not to cry when we take the prize.
Richard Hilgartner Jr. grew up half a block off York Road in the 400 block of Overbrook, where his parents, Dick and Mary Lee Hilgartner, continue to reside 46 years after purchasing their home in 1969. After attended St. Mary's Seminary and University in Roland Park where he was ordained in 1995, the Rev. Monsignor Hilgartner studied in Rome at the Pontifical Athenaeum Sant'Anselmo earning his licentiate in sacred theology with a specialization in sacramental theology. The Rodgers Forge native has ministered at many local churches including the Cathedral of Mary Our Queen in Homeland. Father Rick was recently named the newest pastor of St. Joseph Parish in Cockeysville, which, if you're checking a map, is half a block off York Road. From whence we came, we shall return. And the Hilgartners could not be more proud of their son for his success.