Pickle Soup

I've been obsessed with cold soup lately. I love soup of all kinds, but my consumption of it tends to decline in the summer because it's so hot (both the soup and the weather). The combination of available fresh vegetables and the outrageous heat we've been having this summer has resulted in an intense craving for gazpacho. It started when these crazy people came to visit and I tasted perfection. We went out to lunch at a little cafe on Charles Street, while taking "Krista's Walking Tour of Boston" and everyone got the soup and sandwich combo. Though some of us were crazy enough to order hot soup on a day with highs in the upper 90s, I chose the gazpacho and it was heavenly. It definitely gave me the boost I needed to regain my tour guide mojo. But then I couldn't get it out of my head. I started looking up recipes but didn't try to make any because I was worried that I wouldn't be able to recreate the magic that continued to make my mouth water.

On the Fourth of July, while taking "Krista's Fourth of July Walking Tour of Charlestown, Boston, and Cambridge," my friend Jess and I traveled far and wide taking in the fun events Boston has to offer. As we neared Charles Street, my gazpachodar went off and I knew immediately that I was being given another opportunity to eat that divine soup. On another high 90s day, it hit the spot more than you can imagine.

Then I had more visitors. My cousins from California came to visit on their way up to Lake Champlain. They desperately wanted chowder, so I did my best to find some chowder around my apartment. Well, it was another hot day and I guess local restaurants agree with me that cold soup is the way to go. I was thrilled with the Pacific Street Cafe and its delicious gazpacho, but sadly, the cousins from California left without tasting Boston's chowder.

While gazpacho may be the go-to cold soup, there are many others out there, just waiting to be tried. PICKLE SOUP, for example! I found a recipe online and was so excited to try it. It seemed simple enough: blend cucumbers, plain yogurt, and dill with salt and pepper. It WAS simple and it WAS delicious! Perhaps next time I will add some garlic, but I was very pleased with my first attempt. I have a few other cold soups to try this summer, but I'm sure pickle soup will be making another appearance before long.