“Soup’s On”:http://www.alzheimer.ca/en/perth/Get-involved/Be-a-fundraiser/Soups-On is an annual fundraiser for the Alzheimer Society in Stratford Ontario and my sister and I went for the first time this past January.
It takes place in the Stratford Rotary Complex and is only on for a few hours from 11:00 am – 2:00 pm. The event started with a parade by the Stratford Police Pipes and Drums though we missed it.
There were 30 vendors from around town who competed with each other for the title of best soup. We bought tickets (7 for $5) and then handed them in for a taste of different soups. If you wanted more than a taste size, you could use more tickets (they call them soupons) and get a larger serving: 1 for a taste, 4 for a cup and 6 for a bowl. They had convenient drinks trays we could use to collect the tastes of soup. Some tastes included a chunk of bread or some nachos to accompany the soup. There was a good variety of soups and some were vegan or vegetarian. Along with the soupons, we were given a map of the venue to help you keep track of which vendor’s soup you were sampling. The vendors were arranged around the outer walls of the building with eating areas, the stage and the silent auction area in the middle.
We tried seven soups and voted for our respective favourite. My pick turned out to be made by the hospital staff – roasted red pepper bacon and corn chowder. It was delicious and nothing like anything I’ve ever eaten in a hospital! My experience of hospital soup, as a patient, is mystery soup. It was a creamed nondescript something; no one could identify what the taste was supposed to be. Happily that was not the case here. Their chowder was complex with layers of flavour.
In addition to the soup, there was live music and a silent auction. The silent auction items ranged from theatre tickets, to travel vouchers (air and rail), to wine, to sports tickets and more. It all adds to a festive atmosphere; just the thing to warm you up in winter after the excesses of Christmas. For only $5, it is money well spent.
