Soup’s On for Winter in Chicago

October 29, 2015 in I On The Scene

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There’s nothing better than a big bowl of hot soup to keep you warm in the brutal cold of the Midwest. As the weather dips, we’ve put together a list of some the city’s tastiest liquid elixirs to keep you fueled and warm through this coming winter.

Meal-In-A-Bowl Soups
XOCO (449 N. Clark Street, enter on Illinois Avenue)

Chef Bayless is brilliant at creating new dishes from traditional Mexican fare and we especially love this idea of a meal-in-a-bowl soup. Choices range from a wood-roasted chicken pozole that includes Gunthorp chicken, corn and crispy garnishes in a rich broth; pork belly vermicelli with woodland mushrooms, zucchini, avocado, and salsa Negra; and a carnitas soup with potato-masa dumplings, chayote, arugula, serrano, and avocado. Talk about hitting all the spots!

Pho
Tank Noodle (4953 N. Broadway; 773-878-2253)

This aromatic Vietnamese soup is made with broth – usually, beef stock – rice noodles, scallions, fresh herbs, and spices all served alongside thinly sliced beef or chicken, bean sprouts, cilantro, basil, lime and, for extra spice, jalapeño. It’s a layered delight as you taste salty, sweet and sour all in one dish.

Tortilla Soup
La Fogata Village (1820 S. Ashland Ave; 312-850-1702)

This hearty and spicy Mexican soup is made with a base of chicken broth – with plenty of chicken meat – and then it’s ladled over crispy strips of tortilla, with cheese and avocado added on top. La Fogata offers two options: a chipotle tomato, for those opting out of meat, and a guajillo chicken for a bit of color and spice. Add lime for some extra zest!

Lobster Bisque
New England Seafood Company (3341 N. Lincoln Avenue; 773-871-3474)

This New England-style seafood restaurant offers three delicious soup options, including cioppino and clam chowder, but we’re salivating over their lobster bisque. This French creation is made from the broth of fresh lobsters that is strained and mixed with herbs, spices, vegetables, and heavy cream. Try it with one of their fresh rolls to make it a complete meal.

Sweet Potato Soup
Lula Cafe (2537 N. Kedzie Boulevard; 773-489-9554)

This creamy concoction combines sweet potato, chestnut, black cardamom, and Carolina gold rice with duck cracklings. Add a side salad or a sandwich and it becomes the perfect dose of deliciousness for those frosty afternoons.

About Sandra Trevino

Sandra Trevino is a Chicago journalist and the founder of Enchufate, a website dedicated to all things Latin alternative. You can listen to her radio broadcasts every Friday morning on 91.1FM and the 2nd/4th Monday of the month via Lumpen Radio on 105.5FM. When she’s not writing or on the radio, you can find her playing music at different venues across the city as part of DJ duo The Ponderers.