THE LA SOUPE SCOUPE

June 2020

MESSAGE FROM SUZY

La Soupe has been enjoying our new space and going through some major growth in the four weeks since we relocated to our permanent home in Walnut Hills. Like everyone else during the last two weeks of unrest, we have been taking the time to listen, to learn, and many of our employees have even marched. We believe the very essence of our work – food justice for all – in so many ways is racial justice. Creating the beautiful meals with the slightly imperfect food we receive and sharing with all who are simply hungry, we see it as a metaphor of life. We give our talent, we give our time, and we believe we give our customers hope – hope for a better tomorrow.

To create a lasting change, we cannot address food insecurity on our own. We are engaged in the work with many like-minded agencies and individuals who address education, housing, and access to technology, issues that keep a disproportionate number of people of color in poverty.

La Soupe looks forward to the opening of the Improv Studio at our new location, where we can invite the diverse community in which we now live, to cook alongside us. We hope to share stories and discuss day-to-day life challenges as we chop together, simmer the soupe, and break bread together.

Our future will be filled with new challenges and new alliances as we address the hunger and poverty in our city. La Soupe’s commitment to building food security and opportunity for all people, we believe, is through culinary education and through the simple act of giving a bowl of soupe.

Suzy

INTRODUCING GREG GENETTI

Since long before I was born, the Genetti family has dedicated their lives to public service. As the son of an Army General, I learned first-hand what true selflessness, diligence, loyalty, and accountability looked like. Dedication on this level required frequent moves, packing up every three years and heading off to a new military base in a different part of the country. Learning to adapt to new surroundings and making friends quickly was essential. One of the perks of the Army Brat lifestyle was experiencing exciting regional cuisine bursting with flavors previously unknown to me. From the incredibly fresh poke` of Hawaii to Texas BBQ and everything in-between, I would come to answer a different calling than my grandfathers. Cooking is where my heart took me. Upon graduating from Cincinnati State's Culinary Program (now Midwest Culinary Institute), I was lucky enough to cut my teeth in some of the region's finest kitchens – The Maisonette and Chester's Roadhouse to name two. It was there that I learned to refine my practice of classical French cooking and get a real world education on the pursuit of perfection. This made for a seamless transition to my post as the chef of the esteemed Camargo Club in Indian Hill, Ohio. For 12 years, I would go on to see the start of new families, and toddlers that I once gave cookies to, go off to college. I would mourn loved ones lost alongside the families that I served, and make friendships that I know will last a lifetime. It is the sum total of all of these things that led me to La Soupe. My passion for food is really a passion for humanity. In the time of great turmoil that our world is facing, our interdependence of one another is as humbling as it is beautiful. In my 25+ years of cooking, I have never been prouder to be a part of a kitchen than I am now. I'm impossibly honored and excited to share all that I have, and all that I know, with whomever may be in need of it. La Soupe doesn’t just fill stomachs, it fills souls. I know, because it's already filled mine.

915 - Signs of Love

It's official...we have etched our logo in the front window at 915 E. McMillan so you can find us easier!

To thank our donors, we have created a Donor Wall located in our Lobby/Education space.  We are so happy to finally recognize those who made a gift to the Capital Campaign and helped us realize our vision. 

We have raised $4.6 million toward our $5 million goal and we thank everyone who has invested in our work to date.

ONLINE ORDERING FOR CURBSIDE PICKUP IS OPEN!

La Soupe has online ordering available. Just click below to view the menu! We hope you will enjoy this new option, but if you have any problems ordering, please call La Soupe and we will walk you through the process! 513.271.0100

Click HERE to view the menu.

coRUNa Virtual 5K

Gifts to La Soupe keep us running in the right direction! Thanks to the team from Toyota who conducted a virtual fundraiser for us. The team at Toyota’s Cincinnati Regional Office sent a quick thank you to the La Soupe team acknowledging the great work we are doing for the community!

To show their appreciation for La Soupe’s effort to bridge the gap between hunger and food waste, they hosted a coRUNa Virtual 5K for La Soupe.

This 5K was offered up to help encourage good health and wellness of team members while working remotely. They suggested members make a donation to La Soupe as a participation fee. More than $2,000 was raised from this virtual event to help support our mission and our efforts.

Since participants tracked their routes, we thought we would share some of the creative GPS 5K art designs! Thank You Toyota!

COMMUNITY KITCHEN PROGRAM

As Cincinnati restaurants begin to hire back their talent, and re-open their doors to a changed world, La Soupe is now a consistent source of income for FIVE local businesses. We have hired Eatwell Celebrations and Feasts, Out of Thyme Kitchen Studio, and Mita's Restaurant and Bar to create nutritious meals for food insecure populations in their neighborhoods and around the city. Taste of Belgium and Sleepy Bee continue to create meals and salads for families through the 23 Cincinnati Public School feeding locations. This temporary relief program is now generating over 22,000 servings per week and helping us meet the needs of an escalated at-need population this summer. Since the program launched in April, these talented chefs have put out 173,000 servings of delicious and nutritious meals. 

LA SOUPE STATISTICS

Team La Soupe, our Community Kitchens, and our Pallet Partner program are working really hard!

FROM CULINARY EDUCATION DIRECTOR Kristen:

Our Education team is going out into our new community every week! We are meeting in the former Walnut Hills Kroger parking lot (cattycorner to our new home) with Gary, Food Access Coordinator, from the Walnut Hills Redevelopment Foundation, and passing out free soupes on Fridays from 1-3pm.

Gary is back to making his amazing smoothies, utilizing as much as possible from the community gardens. The Healthy Harvest Mobile Market is there, too, with affordable, fresh produce. Equitas will be sparking a conversation with those who stop by and they are handing out Care Packages as well. We also have Scythia Farming providing info on their upcoming pilot program to bring local produce to a corner store.

Sally, Carolyn, and myself, all Culinary Educators at La Soupe, are very interested in learning how the community would like to interact with La Soupe's new teaching kitchen. Programs are already in the pilot phase and we are thrilled for the day we can open the door to all the community members that have shown interest!

"We have been asking folks through a survey what they would like to see in our teaching kitchen and we have learned so many people in the neighborhood have skills and a lot of experience in their own kitchen or in a professional kitchen. We can't wait to learn from their wisdom and create an environment where our neighbors can share their traditions!"

Kristen St. Clair

If you live or work in Walnut Hills we would love to hear your thoughts! Click below to take the 3 question survey.

SUPPORT LA SOUPE!

We are an official charity on AmazonSmile!

• Click HERE to sign up. Choose La Soupe as your charity and start shopping!

We are also an official charity of the Kroger Community Rewards Program. Follow the steps below to participate:

• Click HERE to begin

• Choose Sign In at the top right corner

• Choose My Account

• Sign in with your email address and password

• Choose Community Rewards on the left side of the page

• Choose Change Organization

• Enter La Soupe in Find Organization

• Choose Enroll

• Remember to enter your Kroger Plus card or phone number when you are checking out so La Soupe will receive a donation from your purchase (you should see the reward at the bottom of your receipt).

FROM EXECUTIVE CHEF MIRANDA

Asparagus is in peak season! And once you have mastered this soupe and technique, you can make any creamy vegetable soupe!

Asparagus Soupe with Lemon and Parmesan

• 2 bunches asparagus (about 2-1/4 pounds), bottom ends trimmed

• 3 tablespoons unsalted butter

• 2 medium yellow onions, chopped

• 3 cloves garlic, peeled and smashed

• 6 cups low-sodium chicken broth

• Salt

• Freshly ground black pepper

• 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice, from one lemon

• 1/2 cup shredded Parmigiano-Reggiano

• Handful fresh herbs, such as thyme, dill or basil (optional, for garnish)

1. Melt the butter in a large pot over medium heat. Add the onions and garlic and cook, stirring frequently, until soft and translucent, about 8 minutes. Do not brown; reduce the heat if necessary.

2. In the meantime, cut the tips off of one bunch of the asparagus and set aside (you'll use those for a garnish). Cut the remaining spears and the other bunch of asparagus into 1/2-inch pieces.

3. Add the chopped asparagus to the pot (minus the reserved tips), along with the chicken broth, 1 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Bring to a boil, then cover and turn the heat down to low. Simmer for about 30 minutes, or until the vegetables are very tender.

4. Meanwhile, bring a small pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the reserved asparagus tips for a few minutes, or until tender-crisp. Drain the tips and then place them in a bowl of ice water to "shock" them -- this stops the cooking process and preserves their bright green color. Once the tips are cool, drain them and set aside.

5. Purée the soup with an immersion blender until completely smooth. (Alternatively, use a standard blender to purée the soup in batches, then return the soup to the pot.) Bring the soup back to a simmer and stir in the lemon juice and Parmigiano-Reggiano. Taste and adjust seasoning, if necessary. To thicken the soup, allow it to simmer, uncovered, until the desired consistency is reached.

6. Ladle the soup into bowls, then top each bowl with asparagus tips, Parmigiano-Reggiano, herbs (if using), and freshly ground black pepper.

7. Freezer-Friendly Instructions: You can freeze the soup for up to 3 months. Defrost the soup in the refrigerator for 12 hours and then reheat it on the stovetop over medium heat until hot. (The soup will freeze best if you add the cheese when reheating.)

SHARE PARTNERS

Serving Older Adults Through Changing Times (SO-ACT)

SO-ACT was founded in 1993 by Sandra Jones Mitchell and the late Sandra L. Massey. The Cincinnati based nonprofit provides services to fight illness and reduce elder abuse. Their team believes that aging should be a fun and exciting journey! SO-ACT therefore strives to enrich the quality of life for senior citizens and their families. They work proactively to develop aging plans and arrangements for long term care. As many local seniors are on a fixed income, SO-ACT offers assistance with food, housing, utilities, medication, and transportation so that these individuals are able to meet and maintain basic needs. The organization's primary goal is to ensure safety, comfort, and independence. La Soupe is proud to partner with this remarkable community. More information can be found at 

Click HERE to go to their website

VOLUNTEER HIGHLIGHT

Sansi Ryan recently retired from the Sales and Marketing Division of General Motors. She is also an avid foodie! Throughout her well-seasoned culinary journey, Sansi developed a kindhearted ambition to help feed hungry children. In response to this call, she started looking for a like-minded group of people. It wasn't long before she stumbled upon La Soupe! Sansi became enamored with Suzy's mission and fell in love with everything the organization had to offer. She now volunteers multiple days a week, and is happy to help wherever she's needed most. Sansi has come to appreciate the amazing sense of community she found within La Soupe, and is proud to aid in the fight against hunger! Her interests include hiking, travel, and football. La Soupe is beyond grateful for Sansi's kindness and generosity. Go Blue!