Soup's On!

These five untraditional bowls will warm you up this season.

A message from our Publisher:
OK, listen, I know a lot of you (not all) live in northern Westchester, and, if so, southern Westchester is basically like a foreign, far-off land. But what better reason than food to motivate your “travel” plans this season? And this cooped-up, COVID-y winter, what more apt eating excursion than a trek down county for a delicious, warm bowl of hearty soup? So, if you do live in my neck of the woods, break out those southern Westchester passports and hit up the five fantastic soup spots featured by Kayla Garritano in today’s edition of Examiner+. YES SOUP FOR YOU!
Best,
Adam
PS And just to preempt the complaints, yes, we will add northern Westchester soup coverage to the 2022 editorial calendar. (Sound good, Kayla?!).

Good morning! Today is Monday, December 20, and you are reading today’s section of Examiner+, a digital newsmagazine serving Westchester, Putnam, and the surrounding Hudson Valley.

Today’s Examiner+ is sponsored by Greca Mediterranean Kitchen+ Bar in White Plains.

With the cold weather approaching, these Westchester restaurants have come up with some creative takes on soups, stews, and chili to satisfy your cravings.

As much as we don’t want to admit it, the warm weather is getting further away in our rearview mirror. However, the good news is that the unofficial start of soup season is here!  With the winter months ahead, we can get excited for all the new comfort dishes that keep us satisfied and cozy. We found an array of unique soups, stews, and chili that will be sure to warm up our stomachs, even when it’s cold outside.

Harvest Celebration Soup, Ladle of Love
Bronxville

This is so much more than your typical butternut squash or pumpkin bisque soup.

“It’s a mélange of sweet potato, butternut squash, carrots, Granny Smith apples, onions,” explains proprietor of Ladle of Love, Leslie Lampert. “The soup is kissed with a bit of cream, maple syrup, and cayenne for a sweet and not-too-spicy bowl of Fall Harvest comfort!”

Although it seems seasonal, this soup can be “celebrated” all year round, as it’s one of their top sellers and has stuck around for a long time.

914.346.8883, www.ladleoflove.com

Moroccan Chicken Soup, Martine’s Fine Bake Shoppe
Scarsdale

This twist on classic chicken noodle soup has been a popular staple on the Shoppe’s menu for the past five years.

Using fresh chicken stock, baby spinach, carrots, butternut squash, chickpeas, and white and dark chicken meat, the soup gets mixed with spices to create a perfect blend of flavors. For good measure, they also grate fresh turmeric into the soup.

How do they get their perfect taste? They import the spices from a lady with a “very special” spice store in a market in Tel Aviv. You can’t get any more authentic than that! 

914.722.4949, www.martinesfinebakeshoppe.com

Birra Soup, VEGA Mexican Cuisine
Hartsdale

Serving Westchester and beyond since 2010, this hip cantina serves more than just Mexican classics like chicken tortilla soup or black bean soup. They’ve also come up with a dish that puts a spin on the classic Mexican stew.

Take short ribs, Mexican spices, tomatoes, onions, and ginger bay leaves and let that mix slow-cook for three hours. In that time, you’ll let all the good flavors melt in together and let that meat get nice and tender to shred apart.  

914.723.0010, www.vegamexican.com

Today’s supporting sponsors are the Town of Yorktown…

…and the Peekskill Business Improvement District.

Coconut Seafood Chowder, Red Plum
Mamaroneck

This isn’t your classic New England or Manhattan clam chowder. The Pan-Asian fare of Red Plum takes this rich soup and adds creative flavors of its own to create an award-winning dish.

Along with clams, this eatery throws shrimp and scallops into a creamy, homemade coconut milk broth. You’ll be slurping it up by spoon (or bowl) as soon as it’s placed on the table.

914.777.8696, www.redplumrestaurant.com

Quinoa Sweet Potato Chili, Wellington’s Soup Shack
Harrison

If you’re looking to stay warm during this “chili” season, you’ll want to visit this small parking-lot shack that brings the best twist on a dish that’s not your typical beef or turkey chili. 

Their quinoa sweet potato chili is exactly as it reads, and is a very popular staple with customers, as it tends to sell out fast when it shows up on their daily specials.

Vegans, vegetarians, and carnivores alike can enjoy a gluten-free, dairy-free, healthier option that will be sure to fill you up just the same.

914.315.1532, www.wellingtonssoupshack.com

Kimchi Tofu Casserole, Yeomiji
Scarsdale

Although the name reads as casserole, this Korean barbeque restaurant actually puts a spin on traditional beef stew.

Spicy kimchi is added to a stew with a choice of pork or beef. Laid out on top is the tofu, packing this stew with tons of protein. It’s also gluten-free, so a wide variety of customers can enjoy it.

This dish can be served in a single portion or as a double to share (or a double for yourself, no judgment here).

914.874.5655, www.yeomijirestaurant.com

Kayla Garritano has been a freelance writer since 2017 when she graduated from Hofstra University with a degree in journalism and a double minor in creative writing and marketing. She now runs her own freelancing website, kaylagarritano.com, where she will happily flaunt her work in many different genres such as food, travel, lifestyle, and all things that make people laugh or smile. When she’s finally done with the computer for the day, she enjoys keeping busy with friends and family. Whether it be attending a sporting event or concert, going to the gym, or just grabbing a drink, she doesn’t know how to stay still.

We hope you’ve enjoyed today’s section of Examiner+. What did you think? We love honest feedback. Tell us: examinerplus@theexaminernews.com

Examiner Media

Examiner Media – Keeping you informed with professionally-reported local news, features, and sports coverage.