SoupFest is Saturday

Author Jon J. Muth celebrates the power of generosity in his classic children’s tale, “Stone Soup,” about three monks traveling an Asian mountainside where they discover a closed, almost closeted village. Through the magic of creating a “stone soup,” the villagers are stirred to curiosity and discover spontaneous joy and nourishment in their collective soup.

On Saturday, March 29, this collaborative spirit inspires the Concord Coalition to End Homelessness and the South Congregational Church Senior Program when they stage their version of a generous “stone soup” as a benefit for the Concord Homeless Resource Center, a program of the Concord Coalition to End Homelessness. 

The SoupFest, taking place at South Congregational Church, 27 Pleasant St., Concord, features two seatings: the first from 5 to 6:15 p.m., followed by a second seating from 6:30 to 7:45 p.m.. A suggested donation of $10 per person will be gratefully accepted. If you can give more - thank you! If $10 is too much for your budget, give what you can, and come in and enjoy. Be curious, be generous, be joyful, and most of all, Think Soup!

Twelve local soup chefs have been enlisted and will deliver a diverse array of soup creations, with the ladles shouting “try me, try me, try me!” Diners will have the opportunity to taste and sample any and all soups. Along with the soups, another table of five local home bakers, truly artisan in skill, will set out a wide assortment of breads. Seniors from South Church will serve up a delectable array of desserts.

Each soup creation may have a back story from the chef, since the presence of soup in the human experience finds roots in cultural, ethnic and geographical backgrounds as well as in multiple layers of history. Diners will hear about Jewish culture and the place of matzoh balls; they may hear about some Irish lore; then again a favorite Asian soup may capture attention; imagine a crab fest in Oklahoma which is the source of a crab bisque entry; no soup fest is complete without an Italian entry; and the list goes on. Attention has been given to gluten-free soup and bread.

The twelve local chefs and their soups include Virginia Prescott’s Nanella’s Chicken Soup with escarole and orzo, Robin Nafshi’s Matzoh Ball Soup, Mark Coen’s Crab Bisque, Mary Gile’s Mushroom with Barley, Bob Murphy’s Smoked Sweet Potato with Sausage Stew, David Frydman’s Ukrainian Beet and Bean Stew (gluten free), Jen Evans’s Tuscan bean with kale and sausage, Ron Jobel’s Shelter Soup, Patti Campbell’s Comfort Corn Chowder, R.P. Hale’s Pho Ga Vietnamese soup, Ignatius MacLellan’s Champion Clam Chowder, and Mike Breault’s Minestrone. Artisan bakers include Bread & Chocolate, David Fries, Rachel Keefe, David Keller, Jon Sadowski, and Oge Young. Live music will be performed by Tim Sink, saxophone, and David Soha, piano.

For more information about the 4th Annual SoupFest on March 29, or to make a donation to the Concord Homeless Resource Center, please call 603-290-3375.

Submitted by the Greater Concord Chamber of Commerce.