As I begin my soup course with Penn Foster I can’t help but
think of the Seinfeld episode in which the world was introduced to the Soup
Nazi. I recall seeing the show and laughing like crazy, but was this character
actually based on a real person like most Seinfeld characters are? And if this
Soup Nazi was real, how on earth can a person make a living selling soup and
only soup out of their restaurant? I quickly put these thoughts to rest until
the other day when I opened my school books.
To me soup has always been a substitute meal. Something you
eat when you don’t feel like cooking, or something you throw in a crock and
forget about because you have too much to do to prepare a “real” meal, but
lately I’ve been broadening my horizons and thinking of soup as an actual meal
instead of a starter or filler.
My text book is delving into the world of liquid nourishment
(no not booze) and with the weather turning chilly; I must say the thought of a
hot bowl of soup sounds pleasing on most days. It’s giving me information on
how to create a flavorful base, how to skim the soup to keep it clear, and it’s
showing me that soup doesn’t always have to be chicken. Apparently the Soup
Nazi, Al Yeganeh, has known this for some time as he’s based an entire career
on soup. I can’t say that I’ll make a life out of soup as Mr. Yeganeh has, but
I am excited by the prospects of trying new and exciting liquid recipes.
By the way, Mr. Yeganeh has closed down his soup kitchen
that was featured in the Seinfeld episode, but no worries, the man has a huge
company now called The Original Soup Man. With a chain of restaurants located all over the country,
franchise opportunities available, and a line of soups available in national
grocery stores, Al Yeganeh has turned a bowl of soup into a lucrative life.