While it is a competition, Souper Sunday is all about warming the soul.
Local chefs, with their sous chefs from the Penticton Secondary School culinary program, are going head-to-head in the kitchen to provide clients at the Penticton Soupateria soup which then is commented on by local celebrity critics and judged.
“The purpose of this contest is to increase awareness of the Penticton Soupateria and it’s role in the community, to increase acceptance of people in our community who need the Soupateria, to stimulate volunteerism, and for career development as the students learn along side local chefs,” said event co-chair Wayne McDougall.
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Each week a knockout-style competition takes place with the winning chef chosen for a final cook off against 2015 champion Jaymz Millar, of the Elite Restaurant, for the Silver Spoon trophy. Each competitor makes a 25-litre pot of soup to serve those at the Soupateria on the contest day. The time frame for preparation to finished service is 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
“The judges in this contest are the diners, approximately 150 local people, who count on the Soupateria every day for a hot, nourishing meal,” said McDougall. “Each diner will be given a ticket, a bowl of soup of their choice and a sampling of the other competing soup and asked to cast their vote.”
Celebrity critics taste and comment on the soups based on appearance, aroma, texture, flavour and creativity. These local celebrities include the Penticton Vees, Penticton mayor and city councillors and others.
So far the contest has seen chef David Stern of Theo’s Restaurant triumph over Aaron Armstrong, banquet chef of the Penticton Lakeside Resort. Both competed last year.
Chef Abul Adame of The Kitchen Restaurant at Misconduct Winery won with his traditional Pozole last Sunday against Chef Mathew Boer from Brodo. That puts Adame against Stern in the semi-final this Sunday.
The winner of this match up will move on to the final Souper Sunday for the championship title on Nov 13.