Timeless, soup has even become trendy. While the thermometer has been showing very low temperatures for several days in Touraine, soups are popular in restaurants which display them on their menus.
In the Prébendes garden, in Tours, it is even one of the signature dishes of the El Cafecito restaurant, located at the entrance to the park. Here, chef Kévin changes the menu (three daily specials) every week. Soup is king there, “and not just winter”jokes the young cook who has just replaced Paul, the former chef, who has left to sail towards new adventures.
Beetroot and green apple, mint oil
From one week to the next, the flavors change, as do the products used. Here, inspiration comes with the desire of the moment and the products delivered by the local supplier. “Every Friday, we receive the menu of vegetables that will be delivered to us The Four Seasonsthe market gardener of Morinerie (in Saint-Pierre-des-Corps) ». Organic and seasonal vegetables, of course. “We are not going to offer tomato soup in the middle of winter”warns Kevin.
At the moment, the baskets are full of celery, parsnips, carrots, beets… “You have to think, make compositions before finding a recipe, explains the young cook, we experiment. » A creativity which does not displease Kévin, self-taught. After his scientific baccalaureate, without any specific ideas, he launched into the restaurant business in Vieux-Tours. First in the dishwasher, then behind the stove. “I learned on the job. »
New blends
A journey that allows him to test new blends. “It’s a lot of personal work, it takes commitment. » In recent weeks, its local customers have been able to enjoy a red cabbage, coconut and sage soup, with green oil and ginger yogurt, or another with beetroot and green apple, mint oil and feta yogurt. Sometimes the tests are not conclusive, “I won’t do the carrot-grapefruit mixture again. »
Red cabbage-coconut-sage soup; tomato-chickpea-cumin soup; beetroot and green apple soup, eggplant soup with miso, lemon yogurt… El Cafecito, in Les Prébendes, offers a new soup every week.
© (Photomontage El Cafecito)
It’s not always easy to renew yourself to avoid the “leek and potato” when the off season arrives. “In January, it is the period when there are the fewest varieties of vegetables. We look for recipe ideas in books and on the Internet. »
The final pattern of the plate remains the same. A pretty floral-inspired grid.
-Other places to find soup in Tours
In an atmosphere like at home, around a high table facing the stove, we enjoy creative soups The Little Kitchenat 45, rue Voltaire, in Tours. This week on the menu: a tuberous parsley velouté, flat-leaf parsley cream.
Rue Constantine, the soup is often offered by Fabien Lagelle from the restaurant In the garden and at home. Before leaving on vacation (the restaurant will reopen on January 28), customers enjoyed a creamy mushroom soup with bacon chips.
Place de la Victoire, the grocery store-restaurant The Peasant Forkmanaged by Amanda Yahia, offers homemade soups made from local and 100% organic products, to be consumed in large or small formats, on site or to take away.
Seduction operation at the Halles de Tours, Thursday January 16, 2025. Céline Dupuydauby, dietician at the Interfel association, an inter-professional association which brings together players in the fruit and vegetable sector, spoke with visitors about the benefits of soup.
© (Photo NR, Pascaline Mesnage)
Rich in vitamins and antioxidants
In addition to being tasty, soups are good for your health. “They are full of vitamins and antioxidants,” confirms Céline Dupuydauby, dietitian at the Interfel association, an inter-professional association which brings together players in the fruit and vegetable sector. She hosted a soup tasting (milk and cauliflower), Thursday January 16, 2025 at the Halles de Tours. “Eating soup allows us to consume the recommended five servings of fruits and vegetables. »
His goal? Convince the younger generation. “Millennials (between 25 and 35 years old) are those who consume the least vegetables. Many people don’t cook or are excited about making soup. While it is very simple, you can even prepare it for several days. »
